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Differential effects of desflurane and halothane on peripheral airway smooth muscle. Br J Anaesth 1996 Jun;76(6):841-6

Date

06/01/1996

Pubmed ID

8679360

DOI

10.1093/bja/76.6.841

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0029933635 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   35 Citations

Abstract

Volatile anaesthetics have been shown to have direct relaxant effects on airway smooth muscle. We have examined the effects of 0.9, 1.9, and 2.8 dog MAC of desflurane and halothane on isolated proximal and distal canine airways precontracted with acetylcholine. The proximal and distal airway smooth muscle relaxed with increasing concentration of each anaesthetic in a dose-related manner. Desflurane had a greater relaxant effect than halothane on the proximal airway only at 2.8 MAC. Desflurane relaxed the distal airway to a greater extent than halothane at 1.9 and 2.8 MAC. The distal airway smooth muscle was more sensitive to volatile anaesthetics than the proximal airway smooth muscle with either halothane or desflurane at all concentrations tested. This effect may be a result of differences in cartilage content, myosin content, epithelium-dependent effects, receptor density, myofilament sensitivity to Ca2+, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ control, or ionic fluxes in the proximal airway compared with the distal airway. The increased sensitivity of airway smooth muscle to desflurane compared with halothane is not known but may be related to possible differences in the effects of Ca2+ homeostasis.

Author List

Mazzeo AJ, Cheng EY, Bosnjak ZJ, Coon RL, Kampine JP



MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acetylcholine
Anesthetics, Inhalation
Animals
Bronchi
Dogs
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Halothane
Isoflurane
Male
Muscle Relaxation
Muscle, Smooth
Neurotransmitter Agents