Arrhythmogenic Plasma Levels of Epinephrine during Halothane, Enflurane, and Pentobarbital Anesthesia in the Dog

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Abstract
Plasma levels of epinephrine which correspond to arrhythmogenic doses were determined during halothane, enflurane and pentobarbital anesthesia in the dog. The arrhythmogenic dose was established by a series of 3-min infusions of epinephrine at 10-min intervals. The mean values of arrhythmogenic doses and corresponding plasma levels of epinephrine were 2.18 .mu.g/kg per min and 38.7 ng/ml during halothane; 11.43 .mu.g/kg per min and 206.3 ng/ml during enflurane; and 15.27 .mu.g/kg per min and 296.5 ng/ml during pentobarbital anesthesia. The arrhythmogenic plasma levels of norepinephrine during halothane anesthesia was nearly the same as that of epinephrine.