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In Vivo Changes in Canine Ventricular Cardiac Conduction during Halothane Anesthesia

Lawrence A. Turner, MD^*, Edward J. Zuperku, PhD, Robert V. Purtock, PhD, and John P. Kampine, MD, PhD

* Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin. Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin; Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Biomedical Engineer, Research Service, VA Medical Center, Wood, Wisconsin. Professor, Departments of Anesthesiology and Physiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin; Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Research Service, VA Medical Center, Wood, Wisconsin. Received from the Department of Anesthesiology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, 8700 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226.

Abstract

Changes in the ventricular conduction system associated with halothane anesthesia were investigated by direct methods of His bundle recording, pacing, and premature stimulation in a canine model. In eight animals a change from 1.5% to 2.4% halothane concentrations was associated with significant prolongation of epicardial activation times by an average of 2.4 and 2.9 msec during atrial and His bundle paced rhythms, respectively. Ventricular functional refractory periods decreased significantly by an average of 7.3 msec, the effective refractory period of the ventricular conduction system did not change, and epicardial conduction delays at the effective refractory period decreased. In six other animals the addition of 1.5% halothane to basal thiopental anesthesia was not associated with prolongation of epicardial activation times or decreased ventricular functional refractory periods. However, the effective refractory period of the ventricular conduction system significantly decreased by an average of 9.1 msec, and epicardial conduction delays at the effective refractory period significantly increased by an average of 9.6 msec. A change in halothane concentrations from 1.5% to 2.4% is associated with depression of ventricular conduction and shortened duration of refractory periods in the ventricular conduction system in vivo in a manner consistent with the reported actions of halothane on Purkinje fibers in vitro.

Key Words: ANESTHETICS, Volatile: halothane • HEART: conduction