The Postoperative Effects of Halothane Versus Isoflurane on Hepatic Artery and Portal Vein Blood Flow in Humans

Abstract

Volatile anesthetics may alter liver circulation with serious adverse effects. Using implanted pulsed Doppler probes in six anesthetized patients, we showed that halothane acted mainly as a vasoconstrictor of the liver vascular bed, whereas isoflurane was a vasodilator, confirming the beneficial effect of isoflurane on liver oxygen supply.

Characterization of a prospective human model for study of the reproductive hormone responses to major illness

“…Volatile anesthetic agents, particularly halothane, have been reported to decrease hepatic blood flow and hepatic clearance rates. However, the inhaled agents in our patients, flurane and isoflurane, are short acting and have a negligible effect on hepatic blood flow and clearance following surgery (8,18,31). Also, clearance rates of sex steroids are actually increased rather than decreased after CABG (51).…”

Continuous infusion ofN-acetylcysteine reduces liver warm ischaemia–reperfusion injury

“…During reperfusion there was fluctuation in portal flow in all three groups. In the sham group, the trend in portal flow was for a gradual increase during reperfusion, which might have been an effect of isoflurane, which increases hepatic blood flow and oxygen supply despite lowering systemic arterial pressure 26,27 .…”

Anesthesia and Intraoperative Management in Liver Surgery

“…Isofl urane has mild cardiodepressive effects but maintains hepatic oxygen supply, due to vasodilatation, and accordingly increases splanchnic blood fl ow [ 11 ]. Sevofl urane seems to decrease portal vein blood fl ow but increases hepatic artery blood fl ow [ 10 ].…”