Influence of glucagon on systolic time intervals during induction of anaesthesia with barbiturate.

The systolic time intervals and calculated parameters of PEP/LVET (pre-injection period/left ventricular ejection time-ratio) and 1/PEP2 before and after induction of anaesthesia with the barbiturate enibomal (Narcodorm) were studied noninvasively in eight surgical patients after pre-treatment with a bolus dose of glucagon. The mean difference between the PEP/LVET-ratio before and after induction was 0.06, and the mean difference between 1/PEP2 before and after induction was -8. The corresponding values in the control group consisting of 12 patients were 0.09 and -28, respectively, suggesting a somewhat greater depression of cardiac function in this group. However, no statistically significant difference at the 5% level was found between changes in the glucagon group and controls. The influence of barbiturates and glucagon on cardiac function is discussed.