Early and late post-ischaemic recovery of contractile function is affected to different degrees by isoflurane and halothane in the anaesthetized rabbit model.

Abstract

The protective efficacy of halogenated anaesthetics on myocardial injury has never been compared during early reperfusion and late reperfusion in an in vivo animal model. We compared recovery of left ventricular function under isoflurane (0.5 MAC) and halothane (0.5 MAC) anaesthesia after a brief period of regional ischaemia (15 min) in acutely instrumented rabbits. Rabbits were instrumented for the measurement of regional segment length and left ventricular pressure. Rabbits receiving isoflurane showed greater recovery of systolic shortening fraction (%SS) both during early and late reperfusion compared with halothane anaesthesia. Isoflurane protected the post-ischaemic myocardium to a greater extent than halothane anaesthesia. Early recovery of contractile function may be a predictor of contractile recovery during the later stages of reperfusion.