Ponte J, Sadler C L
Department of Anaesthesia, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
Br J Anaesth. 1989 Jan;62(1):33-40. doi: 10.1093/bja/62.1.33.
The response of the carotid body chemoreceptors to administration of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane was tested in the rabbit and cat. In the steady-state all three volatile anaesthetics, in doses up to 1%, were mildly chemodepressant. The oxygen response curves were shifted downwards, but hypoxic stimuli below 5.3 kPa overcame this chemodepression. Two-point carbon dioxide response curves were also shifted downwards, but with no change in slope. Possible mechanisms involved in the chemoreceptor response to transient and steady-state anaesthetic administration are discussed.
