Halothane and hypocapnia: effects on electrically stimulated atrial arrhythmias in digitalized dogs
Atlee, J.L.; Ammendrup, P.; Malkinson, C.E.
Anesthesia and Analgesia 60(5): 302-305
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-2999 PMID: 6784606 Document Number: 171686
To assess the effectiveness of halothane as an antiarrhythmic agent against atrial arrhythmias brought about by hyperventilation of digitalized subjects, the effects of halothane end-tidal (ET) = 1.0% and hypocapnia (PCO2ET .+-. 1 SD = 1.16 .+-. 0.31) and following HD were 2.0-4.0 ng/ml (3.06 .+-. 0.71 ng/ml). High right atrial pacing and extrastimulation and catheter. His bundle electrocardiography were used. Spontaneous arrhythmias or conduction disturbances were not observed. Halothane enhanced RAF but not echoes in dogs given LD and HD. It increased supraventricular conduction time and refractoriness. Hypocapnia had no effect on echoes or RAF and minimal effects on conduction and refractoriness. By analysis of variance, digoxin had no effects on echoes, RAF, refractory periods or conduction. Halothane affords no protection against stimulated arrhythmias in hypocapneic or eucapneic, nontoxic digitalized dogs.