Desflurane and isoflurane produce similar alterations in systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and arterial oxygenation in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation during thoracotomy.

Unlabelled: We tested the hypothesis that desflurane (DES) and isoflurane (ISO) produce similar effects on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and arterial oxygenation before, during, and after one-lung ventilation (OLV) in patients undergoing thoracotomy. After obtaining informed consent, anesthesia was induced with sodium thiopental or thiamylal, fentanyl, and vecuronium in 61 ASA physical status II-IV patients. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either DES (n = 30) or ISO (n = 31) in 100% O2 in separate groups. Hemodynamic data (radial and pulmonary artery [PA] catheters) were recorded, and blood gas values were obtained before and after induction; at selected intervals before, during, and after OLV; and before emergence. DES significantly (P < 0.05) increased heart rate (HR) and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac output (CO). PA pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) increased; systemic vascular resistance (SVR) was unchanged. Increases in HR and CO and decreases in MAP and SVR occurred during OLV and DES. Reductions in PaO2 (411 +/- 88 to 271 +/- 131 mm Hg 5 min after beginning OLV; mean +/- SD) and content (CaO2) and increases in shunt fraction (Qs/Qt; 0.25 +/- 0.12 to 0.40 +/- 0.19 at 5 min after beginning OLV) were also observed. ISO increased HR and PA pressures but did not alter MAP, CO, and PVR, in contrast to the findings with DES. Reductions in MAP and SVR and increases in CO and PA pressures were observed during OLV in the presence of ISO. Similar to the findings during DES, decreases in PaO2 and CaO2 and increases in Qs/Qt occurred during OLV and ISO. We conclude that DES and ISO produce very similar alterations in systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and arterial oxygenation in patients undergoing OLV during thoracotomy.

Implications: Desflurane and isoflurane produce similar cardiovascular and pulmonary effects before, during, and after one-lung ventilation in patients undergoing lung surgery.