Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · May 1984
Comparative StudyRegional blood flow in dogs during halothane anesthesia and controlled hypotension produced by nitroprusside or nitroglycerin.
We used the radioactive microsphere method to measure and compare the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nitroglycerin (NTG) on organ blood flow during hypotension induced by each drug. The study was done in 10 dogs anesthetized using 0.7% end-tidal halothane. Each animal received both SNP and NTG to decrease the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) to 45 mm Hg, but the sequence in which the drugs were administered was alternated. ⋯ NTG increased myocardial blood flow (P less than 0.05), while SNP decreased blood flow to brain (P less than 0.05) and kidneys (P less than 0.01). Both drugs decreased blood flow to the spleen (P less than 0.001). Our results indicate that during the first few minutes of NTG-induced hypotension, blood flows to all organs except the spleen are well-maintained, while the first few minutes of SNP-induced hypotension are associated with decreases in blood flow to brain and kidneys as well as to the spleen.