Interaction of big amounts of subcutaneous diluted epinephrine with halothane, enflurane and isoflurane anesthesia

ABSTRACT

Forty-five patients who received subcutaneous injections of epinephrine solution were included in this study. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups according to the inhalational anesthetic used for maintenance [halothane, enflurane and isoflurane]. The study was performed to find out any arrhythmogenic, hemodynamic, metabolic interactions between anesthetics used and subcutaneous big amounts of epinephrine. None of the patients developed any arrhythmias during anesthesia using any of the three agents. Hemodynamic effects were mild but significant increase in systolic blood pressure with the three anesthetics [P <0.05]. There was significant lowering of plasma potassium [P <0.01] and significant metabolic acidosis related to peripheral vasoconstriction in the immediate postoperative period