[Central hemodynamics, gas exchange, and gas oxygen-transporting function in combined anesthesia using xenon during operations under extracorporeal circulation].

The advantages of xenon include its good hemodynamic profile and possible cardioprotective properties. The investigation was undertaken to study central hemodynamics, lung gas exchange, and blood oxygen-transporting function in xenon anesthesia in patients operated on under extracorporeal circulation (EC). Fifteen patients aged 41-69 years operated on for coronary heart disease were examined. The severity of the patients' baseline status corresponded to NYHA functional classes I to IV. The duration of an operation was 251 +/- 10 min; that of EC was 97 +/- 5 min; aortic ligation lasted 59 +/- 3 min. After induction of anesthesia with propofol via concentration-regulated infusion (CRI) and with fentanyl, delivery of xenon was initiated at concentrations of 47 +/- 1 to 52.5 +/- 1%, which was mixed with oxygen. Propofol CRI was used during EC. After the latter, xenon was inhaled at concentrations of 47.7 +/- 1 to 53.3 +/- 1%. The mean arterial pressure (BP(mean)), heart rate (HR), and cardiac index (CI) remained unchanged during xenon anesthesia in the preperfusion period. After EC during xenon anesthesia, CI significantly rose with a moderate increase in HR without inotropic support. BP(mean) was moderately, but statistically significantly decreased. Prior to and following EC, there were no changes in the values of blood oxygen-transporting function.