Cardiovascular effects of halothane in the horse.

Cardiovascular effects of venous alveolar concentrations of halothane in oxygen were studied in 8 young, healthy horses under conditions of constant arterial carbon dioxide tension. The alveolar concentration of halothane was expressed as a multiple of the minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) which was known for each animal. Increasing alveolar halothane concentrations to MAC 2.0 resulted in a progressive and significant (P less than 0.05) decline in systemic arterial pressure and left ventricular work. Cardiac output decreased between MAC 1.0 and MAC 2.0 as a result of a significant (P less than 0.05) decrease in stroke volume. Heart rate, total peripheral resistance, pulmonary artery pressure, hematocrit, plasma protein concentration, arterial oxygen tension, and arterial pH remained constant over the same range of anesthetic dosages. Continuation of anesthesia, spontaneous ventilation, and the accompanying rise in arterial carbon dioxide tension and electrical stimulation of the horse's oral mucous membranes produced varying degrees of stimulation of cardiovascular function at MAC 1.5.