Pulmonary vascular impedance vs. resistance in hypoxic and hyperoxic dogs: effects of propofol and isoflurane.

The pulmonary vascular effects of inhaled anesthetics have been reported variably. We compared the effects of intravenous anesthesia (propofol) and inhalational anesthesia (isoflurane) on multipoint mean [pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa)-pulmonary arterial occluded pressure (PpaO)]/cardiac output (Q) plots and on pulmonary vascular impedance (PVZ) spectra in eight dogs alternatively ventilated in hyperoxia [inspired O2 fraction (FIO2) 0.4] and in hypoxia (FIO2 0.1). Q was altered by a manipulation of venous return. During propofol, hypoxia increased (Ppa-PpaO) by an average of 2-3 mmHg over the entire range of Q studied, from 1 to 2.5 l.min-1 x m-2. This hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was associated with insignificant changes in PVZ. Decreasing Q in hypoxia and hyperoxia did not affect PVZ. Compared with propofol, isoflurane decreased (Ppa-PpaO) by an average of 2-5 mmHg at all levels of Q studied in both hypoxia and hyperoxia but did not affect HPV. During isoflurane anesthesia, 0 Hz PVZ was lower (P < 0.01) in hypoxia, but otherwise the PVZ spectrum was not different from that recorded during propofol anesthesia. We conclude that, in dogs, 1 degree general anesthesia with isoflurane alone decreases pulmonary vascular tone without inhibition of HPV and that 2 degrees pressure/Q plots in the time domain are more sensitive than those in the frequency domain to subtle hemodynamic changes induced by hypoxia or isoflurane at the periphery of the pulmonary vasculature.