Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 12, 337-348, Copyright © 1965 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Hepatic Circulation and Hepatic Function during Anaesthesia and Surgery II The Effect of Various Anaesthetic Agents

¹ Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital

The effects of various anaesthetic agents on the hepatic and the systemic circulation were observed simultaneously Chlorofoim and carbon tetrachloride produced the greatest hepatic circulatory depression, with no recovery after i two hours of administration Ether and N₂O had no heplatic circulatory effect Cyclopropane increased hepatic aitery vascular resistance Halothane and jtotal sympathetic block depressed the hepatic circulation to a manner which paralleled the systemic circulatory depression,there was immediate recovery after cyclo– propane or sympathetic block,after halothane,recovery was slower.These studies suggest that the impairment of the hepatic circulation during anaesthesia and surgery may be important in the development of post–surgical hepatic necrosis Anaesthetic drugs can produce various degrees of hepatic circulatory depression,but they are not the only aetiological factor,nor does the depression affect only the circulation of the liver.