Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 23, 48-57, Copyright © 1976 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

The Effects of Furosemide on Renal Blood Flow and Cortical Perfusion During Methoxyflurane and Halothane Anaesthesia

¹ Departments of Anaesthesia and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6T 1W5

Nephrotoxicity due to methoxyflurane may be due in part to alterations in intrarenal perfusion. Furosemide is believed to alter the intra-renal distribution of blood flow. Studies have been carried out to observe the effects of systemic furosemide administration during methoxyflurane and halothane anaesthesia in normotensive animals and in animals made hypotensive by increasing inspired concentrations of the anaesthetics. During halothane anaesthesia normotesive dogs showed a rise in total renal blood flow during the infusion of furosemide. Hypotensive dogs showed no increase in flow. During methoxyflurane anaesthesia no change in total renal blood flow followed furosemide administration to normotensive animals. Some diminution in total blood flow followed the administration of furosemide in hypotensive dogs during methoxyflurane anaesthesia.

In normotensive dogs during halothane anaesthesia there was a significant increase in deep cortical perfusion after furosemide.

Furosemide, therefore, is unlikely to mitigate the potential for nephrotoxicity which methoxyflurane possesses. Furthermore, this diuretic may adversely influence renal function when administered during halothane anaesthesia.

Note:

This work was supported by a grant-in-aid of research awarded by the British Columbia Heart Foundation.