In 1981, the Institute of Anesthesiology at the Ludwig Maximil ian University of Munich organized a first international sympo sium on inhalation anesthetics. In 1982, the most important con tributions were published in the series Anaesthesiology and Inten sive Care Medicine. At that time, the interest of European anes thesiologists was focused on isoflurane, which had just been in troduced for clinical purposes. Studies on this product had al ready been appearing for years in the American literature. This book deals once more with all three inhalation anesthetics, but places particular emphasis on isoflurane. In contrast to the situa tion in 1981, extensive experimental and clinical investigations on isoflurane have by now become available in the European litera ture. From its conception, the objective of this symposium was not to discuss the relative value of inhalation anesthesia (bal anced anesthesia) as compared with intravenous anesthesia. On the contrary, the major effects and interactions of isoflurane were to be explored. The side effects and their relative significance in different patient groups were also of interest. eurrent knowledge concerning a range of topics related to inhalation anesthetics (es pecially isoflurane) was to be presented in a comprehensive and critical manner. The effects of isoflurane on the cardiovascular system were the focus of interest during the symposium and are accordingly dealt with extensively in this volume. The comparative effects on cor onary perfusion of isoflurane, enflurane, and halothane are de scribed in detail.

List of Contents

Clinical Significance of Biotransformation
Uptake, Distribution, and Elimination of Volatile Anesthetics
Pharmacokinetics and MAC: Practical Implications for Dosage of Volatile Anesthetics
Comparative Pharmacodynamics of Halogenated Anesthetics: Quantitative EEG Analysis to Objectify Central Nervous Effects
Pharmacokinetics of Inhalation Anesthetics Studied with a Feedback-Controlled Closed System
Metabolism and Acute Toxicity of Volatile Anesthetics
Present Status of Organotoxicity of Inhalation Anesthetics
The Influence of Volatile Anesthetics on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cerebral Autoregulation
The Influence of Equipotent Concentrations of Inhalation Anesthetics on the Human Electroencephalogram
Anesthesia and the Kidney
Changes in Hemodynamics, Regional Organ Blood Flow, and Tissue Oxygen Consumption Under Isoflurane and Enflurane
Interactions of Volatile Anesthetics with Epinephrine, ß-Receptor Antagonists and Calcium Channel Blockers
Inhalation Anesthetics and Malignant Hyperthermia
Volatile Anesthetics and Their Effects on the Respiratory System
The Influence of Inhalation Anesthetics on Respiratory Mechanics
Aspects of the Effects of Enflurane on Cardiovascular Control
Cardiodynamics During Rapid Volume Expansion and Function of Chronically Ischemic Myocardium Under Isoflurane: A Study in Chronically Instrumented Dogs
Effects of Inhalation Anesthetics on Coronary Blood Flow and O2 Supply of the Myocardium
Effects of Isoflurane and Enflurane on Oxygen Supply and Microcirculation of the Myocardium
Blood Flow and Oxygen Supply of the Myocardium Under Isoflurane and Enflurane
Myocardial Ischemia During Inhalation Anesthesia in Surgical Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Regional Changes During MyocardialIschemia: An Animal Experimental Study
Volatile Anesthetics and Heart Failure
Inhalation Anesthesia and Myocardial Function: Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetic Aspects
Treatment of Hypertensive Crisis
Inhalation Anesthetics in Vascular Surgery
Inhalation Anesthesia in Geriatric Patients
Volatile Anesthetics in Paediatrics, Today and Tomorrow
Volatile Anesthetics for Combination with Epidural Anesthesia
Volatile Anesthetics in Pregnancy and Obstetrics.