Volatile anesthetics and regional myocardial perfusion in chronically instrumented dogs: halothane versus isoflurane in a single-vessel disease model with enhanced collateral development.

The influence of halothane and isoflurane on regional myocardial blood flow was investigated in chronically instrumented dogs with a well developed coronary collateral circulation. Dogs were implanted with an Ameroid constrictor on the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery to produce slowly progressive coronary artery occlusion and collateral development. Contractile function in the collateral-dependent region was ascertained periodically during brief balloon cuff occlusion or during atrial pacing to characterize the degree of ongoing collateral development. Following documentation of enhanced collateral perfusion by the lack of contractile dysfunction during brief balloon cuff occlusion or atrial pacing at 50 days postimplantation, dogs were anesthetized (inhalation induction) with halothane (1.5% or 2.5%; n = 7) or isoflurane (2.0% or 3.0%; n = 8) using equihypotensive inspired concentrations of either agent. Radioactive microspheres were administered to measure regional myocardial perfusion during the conscious state and at stable hemodynamic states during both low and high concentrations of each volatile anesthetic. Myocardial blood flow during anesthesia was also determined following the adjustment of arterial pressure and heart rate to conscious levels by administration of phenylephrine and atrial pacing, respectively. Over the course of collateral development, balloon cuff-induced contractile dysfunction and pacing-induced contractile dysfunction in the collateral-dependent zone were reduced, indicating extensive collateral development. Halothane and isoflurane decreased global and regional indices of contractility and arterial pressure in a dose-dependent manner, but only isoflurane reduced coronary vascular resistance. Both anesthetics decreased myocardial perfusion within normal and collateral-dependent regions; however, flow was restored to levels found in the conscious state coincidental with control of arterial pressure and heart rate. Neither anesthetic alone, nor with concomitant control of arterial pressure and heart rate, produced a maldistribution of blood flow transmurally or between normal and collateral-dependent zones. The results suggest that both halothane and isoflurane, although decreasing major determinants of myocardial oxygen demand, do not unfavorably alter the regional distribution of coronary blood flow in a single-vessel disease model with enhanced collateral development.