Effects of nitrous oxide on minimum alveolar concentration of desflurane in dogs

Abstract

Effects of nitrous oxide (N2O) on minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of desflurane were studied. For that purpose, 30 dogs were randomly allocated into two groups: desflurane group (GD) and N2O and desflurane group (GDN). GD animals received propofol to intubation, and 11.5V% of desflurane diluted in 100% O2. After 30 minutes, they received electric stimulus and if the animal did not react to stimulus, desflurane concentration was reduced by 1.5V%. This protocol was repeated at each 15 minutes, and stimulus was interrupted when voluntary reaction was observed. GDN dogs were submitted to diluent flow 30% O2 and 70% N2O. Desflurane's MAC; heart (HR) and respiratory (RR) rates; systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures (SAP, DAP, and MAP, respectively); end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2); oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2) and body temperature (T) were evaluated. In both groups increase in HR and ETCO2, and decrease in RR and T were associated with administration of the highest dose of desflurane. Blood pressures decreased 30 minutes after desflurane administration in GDN, and after this measurement the values increased. Reduction in desflurane's MAC was observed as well. It is concluded that N2O associated with desflurane reduced desflurane's MAC by 16% with increase in HR and respiratory depression.