Cardiovascular effects of short-term anaesthesia with methohexitone and propanidid in normal subjects.

The cardiovascular effects of a single dose of two short-acting intravenous anaesthetics, methohexitone and propanidid, were studied in ten healthy male volunteers. The doses used were selected to produce clinical anaesthesia of similar depth and duration. Methohexitone increased heart rate initially without changing arterial or filling pressures. The C(a-v)02 difference was decreased, suggesting an increased cardiac output. The heart rate increase was of the same order of magnitude, indicating no important negative inotropic effect. Propanidid initially decreased arterial pressure and increased heart rate. Fining pressures increased slightly. The C(a-v)02 difference decreased to the same extent as after methohexitone. A relatively larger increase in heart rate and increases in filling pressures point to a more clearcut negative inotropic effect. However, it would seem that with both agents the effect is predominantly peripheral.