Hemodynamic effects of aerosol propellants. I. Cardiac depression in the dog.

The inhalation of fluorocarbons caused a depression of myocardial contractility, aortic hypotension, a decrease in cardiac output and an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. The minimal concentrations that elicited these changes are as follows: 1% trichlorofluoromethane (FC11); 2.5% dichlorotetrafluoroethane (FC114); and 10% dichlorodifluoromethane (FC12). Inhalation of 20% octafluorocyclobutane (FC318) and difluoroethane (FC152a) did not influence these hemodynamic parameters. As in previous comparisons, the most widely used aerosol propellants are potentially cardiotoxic in the anesthetized dog.