Desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane affect left atrial active and passive mechanical properties and impair left atrial-left ventricular coupling in vivo: analysis using pressure-volume relations.

Background: The effects of volatile anesthetics on left atrial function in vivo have not been described. The authors tested the hypothesis that desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane alter left atrial mechanics evaluated with invasively derived pressure-volume relations.

Methods: Barbiturate-anesthetized dogs (n = 24) were instrumented for measurement of aortic, left atrial, and left ventricular pressures (micromanometers) and left atrial volume (orthogonal sonomicrometers). Left atrial contractility and chamber stiffness were assessed with end-systolic and end-reservoir pressure-volume relations, respectively, obtained from differentially loaded diagrams. Relaxation was determined from the slope of left atrial pressure decline after contraction. Stroke work and reservoir function were assessed by A and V loop areas, respectively. Left atrial-left ventricular coupling was determined by the ratio of left atrial contractility and left ventricular elastance. Dogs received 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 minimum alveolar concentration desflurane, sevoflurane, or isoflurane in a random manner, and left atrial function was determined after 20-min equilibration at each dose.

Results: Desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane decreased heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and maximal rate of increase of left ventricular pressure and increased left atrial end-diastolic, end-systolic, and maximum volumes. All three anesthetics caused dose-related reductions in left atrial contractility, relaxation, chamber stiffness, and stroke work. Administration of 0.6 and 0.9 minimum alveolar concentration desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane increased V loop area. All three anesthetics decreased the ratio of stroke work to total left atrial pressure-volume diagram area, increased the ratio of conduit to reservoir volume, and reduced left atrial contractility-left ventricular elastance to equivalent degrees.

Conclusions: The results indicate that desflurane, sevoflurane, and isoflurane depress left atrial contractility, delay relaxation, reduce chamber stiffness, preserve reservoir and conduit function, and impair left atrial-left ventricular coupling in vivo.