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Effects of anesthesia upon the heart

1960; Elsevier BV; Volume: 6; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0002-9149(60)90217-4

1879-1913

Benjamin E. Etsten, Tsung H. Li,

Anesthesia and Neurotoxicity Research

The direct and indirect effects of anesthetic agents and technics upon the heart are evaluated herein. There is very little evidence that cardiac function is depressed during light and moderate levels of anesthesia in the normal human subject. However, myocardial depression may occur during the deeper levels of anesthesia or when associated with other stresses such as anoxia, hypercarbia, hypotension and impaired adrenal function, or after the administration of other circulatory depressant drugs such as reserpine. The ability of a cardiac patient to withstand anesthesia is directly related to his cardiac reserve and other disease conditions. Generalizations contraindicating the use of any one anesthetic drug are unwarranted. The choice of anesthetic agent is entirely dependent upon evaluation of the individual patient and the ability of the anesthesiologist to maintain blood gases (oxygen saturation, pH and pCO2) within physiologic levels during light anesthesia.