Cardiovascular effects of etomidate with emphasis on regional myocardial blood flow and performance.

The effects of 30-min infusions of etomidate 0.03, 0.12 and 0.24 mg kg-1 min-1 on systemic and regional haemodynamic variables and cardiac performance and metabolism were studied in pigs. The drug caused moderate, but dose-dependent, decreases in the cardiac output, arterial pressure and LVdP/dt max. Myocardial wall thickening, measured by echographic analysis, was decreased by the drug. However, heart rate, myocardial blood flow distribution and myocardial metabolism of lactate, glucose and free fatty acids remained unchanged. Cerebral blood flow was decreased substantially. However, renal blood flow changed only slightly.