[Transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation of the effect of isoflurane on cardiac systolic and diastolic function].

In this study, we used transesophageal echocardiography to investigate the effect of isoflurane (0.0, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0%) on cardiac systolic and diastolic function in 10 adult patients without ischemic heart disease. Concerning systolic function, fractional shortening, stroke volume, and cardiac output showed dose-dependent, significant increases at 1% isoflurane. Concerning diastolic function, left ventricular flow velocity and pulmonary vein flow velocity were measured but the peak velocities were unchanged at each concentration of isoflurane. In conclusion, isoflurane at concentrations used in the current study is unlikely to cause significant myocardial depression in normal adults.