[Hemodynamic and gasometric modifications during the anesthesia recovery period in patients undergoing ventilation after surgery of the abdominal aorta].

This study was carried out on 12 patients (mean age 61) in order to assess the oxygen consumption (VO2) in the post-operative stage of an elective surgical procedure (replacement of the abdominal aorta). Anesthesia was a combination of thiopentone, pancuronium bromide and high doses of droperidol and fentanyl. Patients were kept intubated and ventilated in the post-operative period. VO2 and other related metabolic parameters as well as hemodynamic parameters were measured every 45 minutes over a period of 5 hours. A VO2 increase (127%) related to the increase in body temperature was noted. Mean VO2 for all patients during the whole period was 170 +/- 13 ml.min-1.m-2 (range: 51-411 ml.min-1.m-2). Mean value of maximal VO2 was 240 +/- 21 ml.min-1.m-2 (range: 1471-411 ml.min-1.m-2). Large dose of droperidol are shown to limit VO2 increase. In patients with shivering, the maximal value of VO2 was found during shivering. The amount of droperidol administered during anesthesia was greater in patients without shivering. VO2 increase was due to a rise in tissular O2 extraction. Cardiac index was insufficiently increased (+ 9.4%) and a certain extent of myocardial inadaptability was suspected in relation with: high blood pressure, hypovolaemia and/or myocardial effect of anesthesia agents.