Cardiovascular Effects of and Interaction between Calcium Blocking Drugs and Anesthetics in Chronically Instrumented Dogs. 11. Verapamil, Enflurane, and Isoflurane

The effects of enflurane and isoffurane on the cardiovascular system and cellular calcium kinetics are somewhat different. Consequently, the interaction with the calcium channel blocking drug, verapamil, may also differ. In order to compare the anesthetics, the authors studied the effects of two infusion doses of verapamil (which produced plasma levels of 90 and 180 ng. ml−1) on cardiovascular dynamics and regional blood flow in awake dogs. On two other days, in the same dogs, the effects of approximately 1.1 and 2 MAC enflurane and isoflurane were first studied and then the same verapamil dose regimens while the same anesthetic concentrations were maintained. Verapamil produced only increases in heart rate and the P-R interval in the awake animal. The high dose of both anesthetics markedly decreased mean aortic pressure and left ventricular rate of tension development (dP/dt), and increased heart rate. However, only enflurane also decreased myocardial segment length shortening and increased left atrial pressure. Neither anesthetic alone affected coronary or renal blood flow, while both increased carotid blood flow at the low dose. Verapamil infusion during 1.2 MAC enflurane was more depressant than during 1.2 MAC isoflurane, but the combination of verapamil with 2 MAC concentration of both anesthetics was equally depressant. Both doses of both anesthetics increased plasma verapamil levels compared with the same verapamil dosing regimen awake. When these results are compared with those previously reported for halothane, the effects of verapamil during all three anesthetics are more similar than different. All anesthetics increased plasma verapamil levels at both doses of verapamil, and verapamil was profoundly depressant to the cardiovascular system during high concentrations of all three anesthetics. However, because of a tendency for increased incidence of sinus arrest and bradycardia and more hemodynamic depression during enflurane, the authors conclude that intravenous verapamil is better tolerated during low-dose isoflurane and halothane anesthesia than during comparable concentrations of enflurane anesthesia in healthy dogs.