Cardiocirculatory effects of prolonged administration of isoflurane in normocarbic human volunteers.

Effects of the prolonged administration of isoflurane on haemodynamics were studied in 17 healthy volunteers under normocarbic conditions. The anaesthetic was administered for 90 min at a constant alveolar concentration. Cardiac index was unchanged in the presence of decrease stroke volume index and increased heart rate. The mean arterial pressure decreased with parallel reductions in total peripheral resistance. Left ventricular work decreased. The left ventricular ejection time index increased marginally but significantly. Isoflurane caused no change in the pump performance of the heart but depressed the muscle performance.