The Effects of Halothane, Fluroxene and Cyclopropane on Ventilation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of halo-thane, fluroxene, and cyclopropane on ventilation and the ventilatory response to CO2 were measured in healthy unpremedicated human subjects. To permit comparison of anesthetic effect, measurements were made utilizing the concept of the minimum anesthetic (alveolar) concentration. With each agent, ventilatory response to CO2 progressively decreased with increasing anesthetic depth. During deep levels of halothane and fluroxene anesthesia, the mean ventilatory response approachedapnea. At an equivalent depth of cyclopropane anesthesia mean ventilatory response was 40% of the mean (unanesthetized) value. During spontaneous ventilation mean values for PaCO2 for halothane were greater (P < 0.05) than mean values for fluroxene at each anesthetic level studied. Mean values for PaCO2 for halothane were also greater (P < 0.05) than mean cyclopropane valueffduring deep levels of anesthesia. Rate of breathing increasedpro-gressively with increasing anesthetic levels of each agent. At equiptotent anesthetic concentrations halothane andf luoroxene are more potent depressants to respiration than cyclopropane.