Differential effects of isoflurane and propofol on upper airway dilator muscle activity and breathing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anesthesia impairs upper airway integrity, but recent data suggest that low doses of some anesthetics increase upper airway dilator muscle activity, an apparent paradox. The authors sought to understand which anesthetics increase or decrease upper airway dilator muscle activity and to study the mechanisms mediating the effect.

Methods

The authors recorded genioglossus electromyogram, breathing, arterial blood pressure, and expiratory carbon dioxide in 58 spontaneously breathing rats at an estimated ED50 (median effective dose) of isoflurane or propofol. The authors further evaluated the dose-response relations of isoflurane under different study conditions: (1) normalization of mean arterial pressure, or end-expiratory carbon dioxide; (2) bilateral lesion of the K

SUBMITTER: Eikermann M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4939071 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature