Effects of sevoflurane and halothane on reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in the isolated rat heart.

The effects of sevoflurane and halothane on reperfusion-induced arrhythmia in the isolated rat heart were examined. Reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in all rat hearts, and the duration of VF was 151 +/- 11 (mean +/- SEM) seconds in the control group (no anesthetics administered). Sevoflurane changed neither incidence nor duration of VF at 1, 2, and 3 minimum alveolar concentrations (MAC) of anesthetic. Halothane altered neither the incidence nor duration of VF compared with the control group at 1 MAC; however, at 2 and 3 MAC, halothane significantly reduced the incidence and duration of VF (P < 0.05 at 1, 2, and 3 MAC halothane: respective incidences were 100%, 18%, and 55% and respective durations, 82 +/- 27 seconds, 20 +/- 6 seconds, and 13 +/- 9 seconds). In the isolated rat heart, we found that halothane has antiarrhythmic effects against reperfusion-induced arrhythmia at 2 and 3 MAC. Sevoflurane, however, did not have any antiarrhythmic effects against reperfusion-induced arrhythmia at 1, 2, or 3 MAC.