Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Enflurane”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Thiopental and epinephrine-induced dysrhythmias in dogs anesthetized with enflurane or isoflurane.

Epinephrine-induced dysrhythmias were studied in 19 dogs anesthetized with 1.25 MAC enflurane or isoflurane, or the same preceded by thiopental (20 mg/kg). In 11 (group 1) dogs, thiopental reduced the dose of epinephrine required for production of ventricular ectopy, bigeminy and tachycardia with enflurane, and only ventricular tachycardia with isoflurane (P less than 0.05). Thiopental potentiation of epinephrine-induced dysrhythmias with enflurane lasted 4 hr after induction. In eight (group 2) dogs, the arrhythmic dose (ADE in microgram/ml) and plasma level of epinephrine (PLE in ng/ml) for four or more ventricular extrasystoles in 15 sec were determined in the same animal under each of the four test conditions. ADE and PLE values (X +/- SEM) were, respectively, enflurane, 9.1 +/- 1.0 and 141 +/- 24 (8/8 dogs); enflurane-thiopental, 5.0 +/- 0.6 and 63 +/- 16 (8/8 dogs); isoflurane, 28.3 and 330 (1/7 dogs); and isoflurane-thiopental, 15.2 +/- 2.8 and 265 +/- 59 (5/7 dogs). In addition, thiopental had no effect on plasma epinephrine levels reached during epinephrine infusions with 1.0 (enflurane only), 2.0 (enflurane, isoflurane) and 4.0 micrograms X kg-1 X min-1 (isoflurane only). Nor were epinephrine levels reached during enflurane or enflurane-thiopental different from those reached during isoflurane or isoflurane-thiopental. It is concluded that thiopental potentiates several types of epinephrine-induced ventricular dysrhythmias with enflurane, but only ventricular tachycardia with isoflurane. Furthermore, isoflurane or isoflurane-thiopental were less sensitizing than enflurane or enflurane-thiopental. Finally, neither thiopental nor the anesthetic agents affected plasma epinephrine levels reached during epinephrine infusions lasting 3 min.

Animals↗

The nonlinear contribution of nitrous oxide at sub-MAC concentrations to enflurane MAC in rats.

The presumed linear relationship describing the contribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) to the enflurane requirement necessary to achieve a 1.0 MAC level of anesthesia was tested in rats (N = 84). Each rat received one of six different concentrations of N2O, and enflurane was adjusted to attain 1.0 MAC with the use of a standard tail clamp method. The resultant group MAC anesthetic concentrations were Group I-N2O = 0.0%, enflurane = 2.30%; Group II-N2O = 10.4%, enflurane = 2.19%; Group III-N2O = 30.7%, enflurane = 1.85%; Group IV-N2O = 61.8%, enflurane = 1.75%; Group V-N2O = 70.9%, enflurane = 1.56%; and Group VI-N2O = 80.3%, enflurane = 1.54%. Increasing the N2O concentration from 0-10%, from 30-60%, or 70-80% did not significantly decrease the enflurane requirement; however, increasing the N2O concentration from 10-30% or 60-70% produced a significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in the concentration of enflurane required for 1.0 MAC of anesthesia. Thus, in rats, increasing the concentration of N2O in sub-MAC ranges did not produce a linear decrease in the enflurane concentration required to add up to 1.0 MAC of anesthesia. These results are consistent with a dose-dependent interaction between N2O and the excitatory properties of enflurane; this interaction could represent synergism at low concentrations or antagonism at higher concentration of N2O.

Animals↗

Effects of enflurane on excitation-contraction coupling in frog skeletal muscle fibers.

The effect of enflurane on the excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling of frog skeletal muscle fiber was studied. Low (19.13 +/- 0.70 mg%) and high (108.52 +/- 4.52 mg%) concentrations of enflurane did not cause substantial changes of the resting membrane potential but a high concentration of enflurane reduced the peak of action potentials and prolonged the duration measured at 50% peak amplitude. During the twitch response, enflurane reduced the peak response of light signal measured with calcium-sensitive photoprotein, aequorin, but peak tension was not diminished by a low concentration of enflurane. A high concentration of enflurane remarkably inhibited both light signal and tension. During tetanus, a low concentration of enflurane partially abolished light signal and tension. At the high concentration, this inhibitory effect was pronounced and action potentials were only observed in the initial phase of tetanic stimulation. Enflurane enhanced the increase of light signal observed in rapid cooling contracture. In glycerinated muscle fiber, enflurane shifted the pCa-tension relation to the left in low calcium and suppressed maximally activated tension at high calcium concentration. Inhibitory effect of enflurane on light signal in twitch response without abolition of action potential suggests that enflurane might inhibit E-C coupling in frog skeletal muscle fiber (but it enhances direct calcium release from SR induced by caffeine) and increase calcium sensitivity of contractile element.

Action Potentials↗

Edrophonium antagonism of atracurium during enflurane anaesthesia.

To determine the influence of enflurane on the ability of edrophonium to antagonize atracurium block, dose-response curves were constructed for edrophonium in the presence of 0%, 1% and 2% enflurane, and for 2% enflurane discontinued at the time of administration of edrophonium. One hundred ASA Physical Status I or II patients (four groups of 25), selected randomly and undergoing elective surgery, received atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1, with thiopentone, nitrous oxide and enflurane. Supplementary doses of fentanyl were given if needed. Train-of-four (TOF) stimulation was applied every 12 s, and the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis muscle was recorded. When first twitch height (T1) had recovered spontaneously to 10% of initial value, edrophonium 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 1 mg kg-1 was administered by random allocation. Enflurane concentrations remained constant, except that enflurane was discontinued in 50% of the patients who had received 2% enflurane. Monitoring was continued for at least 10 min, at which time T1 and TOF ratio (T4/T1) were measured. The ED80 for T1 recovery depended on the dose of enflurane: 0.08 (SEM 0.03), 0.21 (0.06) and 0.42 (0.18) mg kg-1 for 0%, 1% and 2% enflurane, respectively (P less than 0.005). With enflurane 2% discontinued, the ED80 was 0.095 (0.050) mg kg-1 (P less than 0.02 compared with 2% enflurane).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Enflurane increases the adrenaline threshold for the development of slow responses in isolated canine trabeculae.

To determine if enflurane has different effects on myocardial sensitivity to adrenaline than those previously reported for halothane, we have studied the enflurane-adrenaline interaction in isolated canine trabeculae using doses of adrenaline necessary to produce slow responses (adrenaline threshold for the development of slow responses, ATSR) as an indicator. The preparations were depolarized in Tyrode's solution containing potassium chloride 26 mmol litre-1, then adrenaline concentrations in the solution were increased stepwise. Enflurane 1% had no significant effect, but 2% and 4% significantly increased the ATSR two-fold and seven-fold, respectively. To investigate the influence of enflurane on the adrenaline-adrenoceptor interaction, we studied the effects on the ATSR of 2% enflurane alone or in combination with either prazosin 8 ng ml-1 or metoprolol 17 ng ml-1. Compared with the ATSR obtained with 2% enflurane alone, alpha 1-block with prazosin did not alter, but beta 1-block with metoprolol significantly increased the ATSR (three-fold). These effects on enflurane are qualitatively as well as quantitatively similar to those reported previously for halothane. Thus, assuming that the MAC value for enflurane is about 2-2.5 times greater than that for halothane, the effects of enflurane on slow channel conductance (antiarrhythmic effects of enflurane) might be about two to three times greater than those of halothane at equivalent depth of anaesthesia. Such differences may explain in part the clinical observation that ventricular arrhythmias are less likely with enflurane than with halothane.

Animals↗

Effect of enflurane on the baroreflex control of heart rate in decerebrate rats.

Volatile anesthetics alter the arterial baroreflex (BRX) but its mechanisms are poorly understood. This study was designed to determine the effect of 1 and 2 minimal alveolar concentrations (MAC) of enflurane on the BRX parameters in unanesthetized brain stem-intact and decerebrate rats. Under enflurane anesthesia, the femoral artery and both femoral vein were catheterized for pressor (phenylephrine) and depressor (nitroprusside) drug delivery and continuous blood pressure measurements. Decerebration was performed at midcollicular level. BRX tests were performed in 3 time periods; before enflurane (conscious brain-intact), during 1 or 2 MAC enflurane exposure 1 hour after a sham operation or a decerebration operation, and 2 hours after the termination of enflurane (zero enflurane). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were fitted to a sigmoid logistic equation, the Boltzman equation. The curve of best fit was obtained with a computer program. 1 MAC and 2 MAC of enflurane shifted MAP-HR baroreflex curves to the left in the all groups and significantly attenuated the baroreflex range. The slope of conscious intact period and zero enflurane period of each group did not change significantly, but during the enflurane period the slope was significantly lowered. Enflurane depressed the baroreflex sensitivity (slope) and the HR range in a similar dose-dependent manner in both brain stem-intact and decerebrate rats. Such results draw into question whether the suprapontine sites contribute to enflurane's actions on cardiovascular autonomic regulation.

Anesthetics, Inhalation↗

Respiratory effects of nitrous during enflurane anesthesia in humans.

The authors measured resting ventilation, the ventilatory response to added CO2, the VD/VT ratio, the rate of carbon dioxide output, and arterial PCO2 in four healthy volunteers, awake and anesthetized with, in order (I) enflurane 0.4 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent, (II) enflurane 1.1 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent, and (III) enflurane 1.1 MAC alone. Enflurane 1.1 MAC reduced ventilation and the response to added CO2 markedly, increased the VD/VT radio, reduced rate of CO2 output, and elevated values of PaCO2 from 41 +/- 1 to 65 +/- 3 mmHg (mean +/- SEM). Enflurane 1.1 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent had similar effects. Enflurane 1.1 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent had similar effects. Enflurane 0.4 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent caused much smaller changes in each measured respiratory variable, increasing PaCO2 values to only 49 +/- 1 mmHg. The results indicate that enflurane 1.1 MAC alone is too potent a depressant of alveolar ventilation to permit spontaneous breathing, but that the "equi-anesthetic" enflurane 0.4 MAC with nitrous oxide 70 per cent may not be. The magnitude of the beneficial respiratory effects of substituting nitrous oxide for an equivalent amount of vapor is substantially greater with enflurane than with either halothane or isoflurane.

Adult↗

Enflurane enhances postischemic functional recovery in the isolated rat heart.

Enflurane is a direct myocardial depressant and may act as a myocardial protective agent during ischemia. The authors studied the effects of enflurane on myocardial high-energy phosphates and tolerance to ischemia in the normothermic, isolated rat heart. After isolation and perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer, the hearts were perfused with either buffer (control) or buffer gassed with 2% enflurane for 10 minutes. Thereafter, hearts were made globally ischemic and elapsed times to initiation of ischemic contracture (IC) were determined. ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) were measured at the conclusion of control and enflurane administration and at IC. Ten hearts per group were reperfused with buffer following IC for 20 min; peak pressure and ATP and CP were determined. Administration of 2% enflurane significantly decreased peak pressure by 20% but did not alter baseline high-energy phosphate levels nor did it prolong time to IC. However, enflurane-treated hearts exhibited significantly greater (P less than 0.01) recovery of function as defined by per cent return of peak pressure (67% +/- 3%) when compared with those hearts not treated with enflurane preischemically (44% +/- 5%). Also, enflurane-treated hearts had significantly higher (P less than 0.01) ATP levels at the conclusion of reperfusion than hearts not perfused with enflurane (12.2 +/- .8 mumol/g dry weight vs. 9.0 +/- 0.8 mumol/g dry weight). These findings suggest that enflurane administered prior to an ischemic interval enhances postischemic myocardial recovery.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Less than additive antinociceptive interaction between midazolam and fentanyl in enflurane-anesthetized dogs.

The anesthetic interactions of midazolam and fentanyl were determined in terms of enflurane MAC reduction in dogs. In part 1, 8 animals received an intravenous (iv) loading dose of fentanyl followed by a constant infusion at 0.05 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 to produce a stable enflurane MAC reduction of approximately 20%. Midazolam was then administered in a series of three incremental loading doses and infusions (2.4, 9.6, and 28.8 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 previously determined to produce enflurane MAC reductions of approximately 30, 45, and 60%, respectively. Enflurane MAC was determined for each infusion. Then fentanyl was discontinued; naloxone 1 mg/kg was administered; and enflurane MAC was determined. In part 2, six dogs received a loading dose and a continuous infusion of fentanyl (0.2 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) designed to produce a stable enflurane MAC reduction of approximately 40%. A series of two incremental loading doses and infusions of midazolam (2.4 and 28.8 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) were added, and MAC determinations were repeated at each infusion rate. Then midazolam was discontinued; flumazenil (RO 15-1788) 1.5 mg/kg was administered; and enflurane MAC was determined. The fentanyl concentrations in plasma remained stable at 1.0 +/- 0.3 ng/ml (mean +/- standard deviation [SD], part 1) and 3.1 +/- 0.5 ng/ml (part 2) throughout the study and, in the absence of midazolam, reduced enflurane MAC by 28 +/- 11 and 44 +/- 5%, respectively. The addition of midazolam produced significant further reductions in enflurane MAC, but the reductions were less than those predicted on the basis of an additive interaction. Naloxone returned enflurane MAC reduction to that expected for midazolam alone (part 1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗

Enflurane-induced release of an excitatory amino acid, glutamate, from mouse brain synaptosomes.

To clarify the mechanisms of enflurane-induced convulsions, we examined the effects of enflurane, halothane, and diethyl ether on the release of an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, from isolated pinched-off nerve terminals (synaptosomes) of the mouse cerebral cortex. At concentrations corresponding to those used clinically (0.75 and 1.25 mM), enflurane released more glutamate than did halothane. Diethyl ether (10 and 58 mM) had no effect on glutamate release. Enflurane (0.75-15 mM) increased glutamate and aspartate release in a dose-dependent manner but had little effect on the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid or on the release of glutamine. A glutamate uptake inhibitor, kainic acid (1 mM), did not affect enflurane-induced glutamate release. Replacement of the medium's Ca2+ by Co2+, or exposure to cold (about 2 degrees C), suppressed the enflurane-induced glutamate release. Depolarization caused by 40 mM K+ increased the basal level of glutamate released, and enflurane-induced glutamate release was lower after depolarization. Enflurane had no effect in synaptosomes prepared from the cerebellum, diencephalon and pons, or medulla oblongata. Thus, enflurane increased Ca(2+)- and temperature-dependent glutamate release, especially from synaptosomes of the cerebral cortex. These data provide a pathophysiologic explanation for enflurane-induced convulsions.

Animals↗

Comparison of halothane and enflurane anaesthesia for tonsillectomy in adults.

Halothane and enflurane in combination with N2O/O2 were compared in 103 adults undergoing tonsillectomy. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental, and intubation was facilitated with suxamethonium. During halothane anaesthesia the mean heart rate ranged from 91 to 106 beats/min and the mean systolic arterial pressure from 111 to 127 mmHg. The values did not differ significantly from the corresponding values during enflurane anaesthesia. Electrocardiographic changes occurred in 56% and 31% of the patients anaesthetized with halothane or enflurane, respectively. the incidence of junctional rhythm, the most common ECG change, was 46% in the halothane group and 29% in the enflurane group. 19% of the patients in the halothane group and 31% in the enflurane group responded to surgical stimulus by swallowing or coughing. The responses were mostly short-lasting and did not much disturb the surgeon. The incidence of laryngospasm was 6% after halothane and 2% after enflurane anaesthesia. The mean total recovery score (0-10) was 6.1 after halothane and 6.3 after enflurane at arrival in the recovery room and 9.8 in both groups 30 min later. After halothane, nausea and vomiting occurred in 8 and 12% of the patients, respectively. The corresponding figures after enflurane were 2 and 8%. It is concluded that both halothane and enflurane are suitable anaesthetics for tonsillectomy in adults. The most striking difference between the anaesthetics was the significantly more common occurrence of ECG changes during halothane than enflurane anaesthesia.

Adult↗

Enflurane depression of myocardial slow action potentials.

Effects of enflurane on myocardial electrophysiologic and contractile properties were examined by simultaneous measurement of action potentials (APs) and contractions in guinea-pig papillary muscle. Enflurane was administered in 1 to 6% concentrations in 5% CO2-95% O2 bubbled through the standard Tyrode's perfusing solution. After studying normal APs, slow APs were induced with 5 to 30 x 10(-8) M isoproterenol and/or 1 to 2 mM theophylline in partially depolarized muscles (typically -40 mV in 26 mM K+ media). AP characteristics and contractions measured during each enflurane application were analyzed. The maximum rate of rise (+Vmax) and amplitude of the normal AP was not depressed, although duration decreased in greater than or equal to 3% enflurane. In contrast, slow AP + Vmax declined significantly (P less than .05) to 90, 80 and 74% of control in enflurane concentrations of 2, 3 and 4%, respectively. Decrease in slow AP duration was significant only in 5 to 6% enflurane. In 1% enflurane, contractions declined to steady-state levels of 75 (fast AP) and 79% (slow AP) of control and fell to 20 (fast AP) and 35% (slow AP) in 4% enflurane. Enflurane concentrations of 2% and greater inhibit slow (Na+-Ca++) channels which mediate slow APs. This effect may be in part responsible for the negative inotropic effect of enflurane.

Action Potentials↗

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of midazolam in the enflurane-anesthetized dog.

Midazolam (Mid) is widely used as an anesthetic adjunct. To test its anesthetic effect vs. concentration relationships, it is desirable to establish stable and predictable Mid concentrations in plasma (and brain). Therefore, the pharmacokinetics of Mid in the enflurane-anesthetized dog were determined, and the ability of Mid to reduce the enflurane concentration required for anesthesia was measured and correlated with the Mid concentration in plasma [MID]. Mongrel dogs (n = 9) were anesthetized with enflurane and the enflurane EC50 (MAC--the end-tidal concentration at which one-half of the dogs respond to the noxious stimulation of clamping of the tail, and one-half do not) was determined. Group 1 (n = 5) received Mid 2.5 mg/kg iv over 60 sec. Plasma for determination of [MID] was collected and the enflurane EC50 was determined repeatedly over the 7-8-hr period following injection. Based on the pharmacokinetic parameters determined for Group 1, dogs in Group 2 (n = 4) received Mid as a continuous infusion of 21 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for 5 hr accompanied by an initial loading dose (3 mg/kg infused over 20 min) designed to produce a stable [MID] of 1000 ng/ml in plasma. Enflurane MAC and [MID] were determined regularly during the infusion and for 6 hr after discontinuation of the infusion. There were no important differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters determined for Group 1 vs. Group 2: t1/2,z = 98 +/- 5 vs. 95 +/- 10 min (mean +/- SEM); V = 3.94 +/- 0.27 vs. 2.98 +/- 25 L/kg; Cl = 28.5 +/- 3.1 vs. 22.3 +/- 1.1 ml kg-1 min-1, respectively. When administered as a continuous intravenous infusion (Group 2), [MID] remained stable at 949 +/- 53 ng/ml for more than 5 hr. The enflurane EC50 was reduced by 55% and the reduction remained stable during the 5 hours of Mid infusion. After a single iv bolus dose or after discontinuation of the continuous infusion, the degree of enflurane EC50 reduction diminished toward the control (i.e., enflurane alone) value as [MID] declined. Mid-azolam's pharmacokinetics and plasma concentration vs. effect relationships have been determined to be consistent under two different experimental conditions.

Anesthesia, General↗

Myocardial contractility, blood flow, and oxygen consumption in healthy dogs during anesthesia with isoflurane or enflurane.

Left ventricular contractility (Vmax), myocardial blood flow (MBF), and oxygen consumption (O2C) were determined together with systemic hemodynamic parameters in a total of 21 mongrel dogs. Baseline recordings were obtained under basal anesthetic conditions with a narcotic (piritramid, IV). In the control group (n = 7), recordings were obtained during a three-hour observation period with infusion of piritramid. In experimental groups measurements were repeated with equi-anesthetic concentrations of isoflurane (0.7 and 1.4 vol%; n = 8) and enflurane (1.1 and 2.2 vol%; n = 6). Dose-dependent reductions of arterial pressure, cardiac output (CO) and peripheral vascular resistance were observed with isoflurane and enflurane. CO at the higher anesthetic level was depressed significantly more with enflurane. This difference was obviously due to a more severe depression of myocardial contractility with enflurane; Vmax was decreased by 18% and 26% with enflurane, but only by 10% and 17% with isoflurane (P less than 0.01). MBF and the fraction of CO received by the heart were increased above their baseline values with both concentrations of isoflurane. In contrast, the fraction of CO remained constant with enflurane while MBF decreased. O2C was reduced due to decreases of afterload and left ventricular contractility. The reduction was greater with enflurane than with isoflurane. All parameters remained unchanged in the control group. The results of this study indicate that the most striking difference in the actions of isoflurane and enflurane on cardiac parameters is on myocardial vascular resistance; MBF is increased with isoflurane, but is decreased with enflurane although myocardial perfusion pressure is reduced by almost identical amounts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

The influence of anesthetic concentrations of enflurane and ethanol on caffeine metabolism in mice.

Enflurane is a fluorinated volatile anesthetic, mostly eliminated unchanged in exhaled air. About 10% of inhaled enflurane undergoes oxidative metabolism in liver via mixed function oxidase. We examined the influence of ethanol and subchronical exposition (6 hours a day, during five consecutive days) to subanesthetic and anesthetic concentrations of enflurane on liver function in BALB/c mice. Specially designed chamber for inhalatory application of anesthetics was constructed for this study. Animals were divided in six groups of twenty. The ethanol treated group was injected with ethanol intraperitoneally (1 g/kg). Two enflurane treated groups were intraperitoneally injected with 0.9% solution of sodium chloride (10 ml/kg) and one of them exposed to subanesthetic (0.5 Vol%) and the other one to anesthetic (2.75 Vol%) concentrations of enflurane. Following two groups received ethanol (1 g/kg) and each of them inhaled enflurane at previously mentioned doses. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.9 % solution of sodium chloride (10 ml/kg) and did not receive any anesthetic. On the day following the last day of exposure half of the animals from each group were sacrificed for determination of glucose levels, erythrocyte glutathion levels, haematocrit, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), liver protein and glutathion levels, and total cytochrome P-450 (CYP P-450). The other half of animals from each group were injected intraperitoneally with caffeine (20 mg/kg). Caffeine and its metabolites in 8 hour urine were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Excretion of caffeine and its metabolites was different among the groups. We followed two caffeine metabolic ratios - 1,3-dimethyl uric acid and 3,7-xanthine (1,3-U/3,7-X) and 3,7-dimethyl xanthine + 7-xanthine and 1-xanthine + 1,7-dimethyl uric acid (3,7-X + 7-X/1-X + 1,7-U). The difference in caffeine metabolites ratios suggests that enflurane changes oxidative metabolism in liver via certain subtypes of mixed function oxidase, probably via CYP-4502E1. This effect is more expressed when ethanol and enflurane are applied together. Ethanol is well known inductor of CYP-4502E1 and the registrated enzyme induction could be explained by both influences - of ethanol and enflurane.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Clinical enflurane metabolism by cytochrome P450 2E1.

BACKGROUND: Fluorinated ether anesthetic hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity are mediated by cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidative metabolism. Metabolism of the volatile anesthetic enflurane to inorganic fluoride ion by human liver microsomes in vitro is catalyzed predominantly by the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP2E1. This investigation tested the hypothesis that P450 2E1 is also the isoform responsible for human enflurane metabolism in vivo. Disulfiram, which is converted in vivo to a selective inhibitor of P450 2E1, was used as a metabolic probe for P450 2E1. METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing elective surgery were randomized to receive disulfiram (500 mg orally; n = 10) or nothing (control subjects; n = 10) the evening before surgery. All patients received a standard anesthetic of enflurane (2.2% end-tidal) in oxygen for 3 hours. Blood enflurane concentrations were measured by gas chromatography. Plasma and urine fluoride concentrations were quantitated by ion-selective electrode. RESULTS: Patient groups were similar with respect to age, weight, gender, duration of surgery, and blood loss. Total enflurane dose, measured by cumulative end-tidal enflurane concentrations (3.9 to 4.1 MAC-hr) and by blood enflurane concentrations, was similar in both groups. Plasma fluoride concentrations increased from 3.6 +/- 1.5 mumol/L (baseline) to 24.3 +/- 3.8 mumol/L (peak) in untreated patients (mean +/- SE). Disulfiram treatment completely abolished the rise in plasma fluoride concentration. Urine fluoride excretion was similarly significantly diminished in disulfiram-treated patients. Fluoride excretion in disulfiram-treated patients was 62 +/- 10 and 61 +/- 12 mumol on days 1 and 2, respectively, compared with 1090 +/- 180 and 1200 +/- 220 mumol in control subjects (p < 0.05 on each day). CONCLUSIONS: Disulfiram prevented fluoride ion production after enflurane anesthesia. These results suggest that P450 2E1 is the predominant P450 isoform responsible for human clinical enflurane metabolism in vivo.

Adult↗

Pretreatment with paracetamol inhibits metabolism of enflurane in rats.

We studied the interaction between paracetamol (acetaminophen U.S.P.) and enflurane. Sixteen rats were assigned to four groups (n = 4) to receive: paracetamol 7.5 mg/100 g body weight; paracetamol plus 1% enflurane; 1% enflurane alone, or no treatment (controls). Animals were killed 6 h later. A second series of 16 were treated identically, but were killed after 24 h. Measurements were made of fluoride concentrations in serum, liver and urine (indicators of biotransformation of enflurane), paracetamol concentrations in urine, pathological changes in liver samples, and concentrations of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum. Pretreatment with paracetamol significantly decreased urinary fluoride at 6 and 24 h after exposure to enflurane, but decreased fluoride concentrations in serum and liver only at 6 h after exposure to enflurane. Paracetamol concentrations in urine did not change after exposure to enflurane. Exposure to paracetamol alone increased AST and ALT. At 24 h after exposure to enflurane, serum concentrations of enzymes in rats pretreated with paracetamol were similar to those of control rats. Pretreatment with paracetamol may therefore inhibit metabolism of enflurane. Although no hepatic damage was observed, the increased in AST and ALT suggested subclinical liver damage in rats given only paracetamol.

Acetaminophen↗

Ethanol-inducible cytochrome P450 in rabbits metabolizes enflurane.

Following anaesthesia with enflurane, some patients receiving isoniazid have increased serum concentrations of fluoride ion, presumably because of induction of an isozyme of cytochrome P450 which is responsible for enflurane biodegradation. In rats, isoniazid and ethanol enhance metabolism of enflurane and also induce a form of cytochrome P450 which is homologous with a form of rabbit liver cytochrome P450 known as 3a. Isoniazid, ethanol and imidazole increase the concentration of cytochrome P450 3a in hepatic microsomes. We have pretreated rabbits with imidazole, the most potent of the three inducers of isozyme 3a, to determine if the hepatic microsomal metabolism of enflurane is enhanced and if purified isozyme 3a catalyses the oxidation of enflurane. Imidazole produced a 250% increase in the hepatic microsomal metabolism of enflurane, sevoflurane, methoxyflurane and the control substrate, aniline. Polyclonal antibodies to cytochrome P450 3a inhibited 90% of enflurane metabolism, but only 40% of methoxyflurane biotransformation in the microsomes from imidazole-pretreated rabbits. Thus isozyme 3a or a structurally similar cytochrome P450 seemed to catalyse almost all microsomal metabolism of enflurane. In addition, purified cytochrome P450 3a catalysed the metabolism of enflurane, sevoflurane and methoxyflurane, and the oxidation of these anaesthetics by cytochrome P450 3a was stimulated four-fold by cytochrome b5, a protein which serves as an alternate source of electrons for some cytochrome P450 reactions.

Anesthetics↗