Enflurane in cardiac surgery
Hartung, E.; Freye, E.; Dehnen-Seipel, H.
Acta Anaesthesiologica Belgica 33(3): 141-155
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-5164 PMID: 7148371 Document Number: 197040
Due to its advantageous properties the volatile anesthetic enflurane is used as the main agent for all routine open heart cases in our department. The technique consists of the induction of the heavely premedicated patient with fentanyl (10 micrograms/kg i.v.) followed by pancuroniumbromide (100 micrograms/kg i.v.). For the maintenance of anesthesia, i.e. before, during, and after cardio-pulmonary bypass, enflurane together with nitrous-oxide (up to 66%) is used, in a concentration between 1.0-2.0 vol%. Compared to other volatile anesthetics we foster a technique with enflurane because it has following advantages: 1. Less negative inotropic effect on the myocardium. 2. Less tendency for ventricular arrhythmia. 3. Fast onset of action. 4. Fast recovery from the anesthetic state. 5. Spontaneous post-operative respiration. 6. Lesser incidence of toxic hepatitis (Acta anaesth. belg., 1982, 33, 141-155).