Laboratory animals
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Comparative Study
Effects of isoflurane versus halothane on myocardial contractility in rabbits: assessment with transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography.
The effects of isoflurane versus halothane on cardiac contractility were evaluated by two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography in rabbits. The relationship between the left ventricular end-systolic wall stress (LVESWS) and the velocity of heart rate corrected circumferential fibre shortening (Vcfc) was used. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular pressure and transthoracic 2D echocardiogrphic data were determined at 1 MAC (minimum alveolar concentration) of halothane or isoflurane, both with 50% nitrous oxide. ⋯ Myocardial contractility under isoflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia was significantly higher than under halothane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia at 1 MAC. The results of the present study confirm data obtained from humans and other animal species and suggest that, in rabbits, myocardial contractility is best preserved by inhalation of isoflurane. Isoflurane should therefore be preferred over halothane, especially in cases of prolonged anaesthetic procedures.
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Endotracheal intubation allows precise delivery of inhaled anaesthetic agents. Intubation in small non-human primates (less than 1 kg), is straightforward, using commercially available equipment, and careful positioning of the animal. Equipment and methods are fully described and illustrated.