Sevoflurane and the feto-placental vasculature: the role of nitric oxide and vasoactive eicosanoids.

Background: The effects and mechanisms of action of volatile anesthetics on the feto-placental vasculature are not known. We aimed to quantify the vasoactive effects of sevoflurane and determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) and of vasoactive eicosanoids in mediating these effects in isolated human chorionic plate arterial rings.

Methods: Quadruplicate ex vivo human chorionic plate arterial rings were used in all studies.