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Effects of subanesthetic halothane on the ventilatory responses to hypercapnia and acute hypoxia in healthy volunteers. 1994

A Dahan, and M J van den Elsen, and A Berkenbosch, and J DeGoede, and I C Olievier, and J W van Kleef, and J G Bovill
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND The peripheral chemoreceptors are responsible for the ventilatory response to hypoxia (acute hypoxic response) and for 30% of the normoxic hypercapnic ventilatory response. To quantify the effects of subanesthetic concentrations of halothane on the respiratory control system, in particular on the peripheral chemoreceptors, we studied the response of humans to carbon dioxide and oxygen at two subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. METHODS Square-wave changes in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (7.5-11.3 mmHg) and step decreases in end-tidal oxygen tension (arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation 82 +/- 2%; duration of hypoxia 5 min) were performed in nine healthy male subjects during 0, 0.05 (HA-1), and 0.1 minimum alveolar concentration (HA-2) halothane. Each hypercapnic response was separated into a fast, peripheral component and a slow, central component, characterized by a time constant, carbon dioxide sensitivity, time delay, and off-set. RESULTS Fifty-six carbon dioxide responses and 27 oxygen responses were obtained. The peripheral carbon dioxide sensitivities averaged to 0.76 +/- 0.14 l.min-1.mmHg-1 (control), 0.50 +/- 0.12 l.min-1.mmHg-1 (HA-1), and 0.30 +/- 0.08 l.min-1.mmHg-1 (HA-2; P < 0.01 vs. control). The central carbon dioxide sensitivity did not differ significantly among treatment groups (control, 1.47 +/- 0.22 l.min-1.mmHg-1; HA-1, 1.41 +/- 0.51 l.min-1.mmHg-1; and HA-2, 1.23 +/- 0.30 l.min-1.mmHg-1). The time constants of the central chemoreflex loop showed a large decrease during the administration of 0.1 minimum alveolar concentration halothane. The acute hypoxic response declined from 15.0 +/- 3.9 l.min-1 to 10.9 +/- 2.9 l.min-1 (HA-1) and 4.8 +/- 1.4 l.min-1 (HA-2; P < 0.01 vs. control and HA-1). All values are means +/- SEM. CONCLUSIONS The results show depression of the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia during inhalation of subanesthetic concentrations of halothane. The depression is attributed to a selective effect of halothane on the peripheral chemoreflex loop. The oxygen and carbon dioxide responses mediated by the peripheral chemoreceptors are affected proportionally. It is argued that the decrease in central time constants is caused by an effect of halothane on central neuronal dynamics.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010313 Partial Pressure The pressure that would be exerted by one component of a mixture of gases if it were present alone in a container. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Partial Pressures,Pressure, Partial,Pressures, Partial
D012018 Reflex An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D012119 Respiration The act of breathing with the LUNGS, consisting of INHALATION, or the taking into the lungs of the ambient air, and of EXHALATION, or the expelling of the modified air which contains more CARBON DIOXIDE than the air taken in (Blakiston's Gould Medical Dictionary, 4th ed.). This does not include tissue respiration ( Breathing
D002245 Carbon Dioxide A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals. Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D002628 Chemoreceptor Cells Cells specialized to detect chemical substances and relay that information centrally in the nervous system. Chemoreceptor cells may monitor external stimuli, as in TASTE and OLFACTION, or internal stimuli, such as the concentrations of OXYGEN and CARBON DIOXIDE in the blood. Chemoreceptive Cells,Cell, Chemoreceptive,Cell, Chemoreceptor,Cells, Chemoreceptive,Cells, Chemoreceptor,Chemoreceptive Cell,Chemoreceptor Cell
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D006221 Halothane A nonflammable, halogenated, hydrocarbon anesthetic that provides relatively rapid induction with little or no excitement. Analgesia may not be adequate. NITROUS OXIDE is often given concomitantly. Because halothane may not produce sufficient muscle relaxation, supplemental neuromuscular blocking agents may be required. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p178) 1,1,1-Trifluoro-2-Chloro-2-Bromoethane,Fluothane,Ftorotan,Narcotan
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006935 Hypercapnia A clinical manifestation of abnormal increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in arterial blood.

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