Effects of clonidine and isoflurane on the myocardial contractility behavior of isolated rat hearts.

Isoflurane is chosen as an anesthesia drug for cardiac surgeries, and its effectiveness and safety have been proved in countless clinical studies. Clonidine, a central alpha-agonist, has recently been added to isoflurane to attenuate sympathetic hyperactivity by acting directly on its site of origin in the central nervous system. The ability of alpha2-adrenoceptor agonists to inhibit central sympathetic outflow may benefit patients at risk of myocardial damage by improving myocardial oxygen demand and the supply ratio and contributing to hemodynamic stability.