Cardiovascular effects of droperiodol during enflurane and enfluarne-nitrous oxide anaethesia in man.

The cardiovascular effects of intravenous droperiodol 5 mg were measured in 20 patients during steady state enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen or enflurane-oxygen anaesthesia, droperiodol produced significant decreases in SVR and BP and increases in HR and Qt which were maximal after five minutes, somewhat less five minutes, somewhat less five minutes later, and back to control values 15 minutes after administration. SV was not significantly altered by droperiodol during enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen at any time after administration. During enflurane-oxygen anaesthesia droperidol reduced SVR and BP after five and ten minutes but did not significantly alter any other variable. All variables had returned to control levels 15 minutes after droperiodol during enfluarne-oxygen anaesthesia. These data demonstrate that droperidol produces a significant though transiet reduction of BP and SVR during enfluane anaesthesia which is associated with no change or an increase in Qt. Our findings suggest that droperidol causes minimal or no myocardial depression when used during potent inhalation anaesthesia and may have a place as an amnesic supplement and/or "afterload" reducer during light enflurance anaesthesia.