Afterload reduction by enflurane.

In 12 patients with coronary artery disease, hypertensive period during aortocoronary bypass grafting were treated with enflurane. The effects of enflurane on the general hemodynamic and the major determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption were studied. Heart rate and systolic arterial pressure were significant reduced, cardiac index and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure remained unchanged. The calculated determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption decreased, as well as the measured arterial-coronary venous oxygen content difference. The authors conclude, that enflurane can reduce the afterload in patients with coronary heart disease.