Effects of chronic alcohol intake on anaesthetic responses to thiopentone sodium and midazolam in rats

This study was carried on 60 male Sprague Dawely rats. Forty rats were given a complete banced liquid diet containing 6.54% ethanol for 21 days [alchoholic] and 20 rats [control] were given the same diet except that dextran was substituted for the ethanol. The diets were removed 9 hours before testing and the animal given free access to water. Thiopentone sodium 50 and 80 mg/Kg or midazolam 3 and 6 mg/Kg were injected intraperitoneally and the animals were observed for loss of righting reflex and the duration of sleep. All experimental and control animals showed a significant weight gain. In alcohol fed rats there was a significant increase in the induction time compared with the control animals [p< 0.05] at a dose of 50 mg/Kg thiopentone sodium. At a dose of 80 mg/Kg there was no significant change in induction time and significant increase in duration of sleep [p< 0.05] compared with the control animals. On the other hand, midazolam at a dose of 3 and 6 mg/Kg either in control or alcohol group failed to induce anaesthesia but produced a long period of drowsiness and sedation

Effects of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane on some systemic haemodynamics and coronary circulation in dogs

The effect of low and high concentrations of halothane, enflurane and isoflurane were studied in 30 dogs to assess and compare their effects on some haemodynamic parameters and coronary circulation. The dogs were divided into three grops [10 dogs in each], according to inhalational anaesthetic agent used. The first group received halothane in low and high concentrations 1% and 1.5% in oxygen. Enflurane was given in the second group in 1.5% and 3% in oxygen. The third group received isoflurane in 1.5% and 3% in oxygen. The parameters were recorded after induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone sodium [in a dose of 10-15 mg/Kg] before the start of inhalational anaesthetics [the control value], 30 minutes after administration of low and high concentrations of the inhalational anaesthetics. The results measured in this study compared to the control value with low and high concentrations, also comparing the two concentrations of inhalational anaesthetics together [low and high]. Femoral artery blood flow [FABF], arterial blood pressure [BP] and systemic vascular resistance [CVR] showed a significant decrease [P< 0.05]. On the other hand, a significant increase [P< 0.05] was observed in the central venous pressure [SVP] with the three inhalational anaesthetics. The coronary sinus blood flow [CSBF] revealed a significant decrease with halothane and enflurane, while a significant increase [P< 0.05] with isoflurane anaesthesia was reported. The coronary vascular resistance [CVR] revealed insignificant increase with halothane [P> 0.05], but a significant decrease was reported with enflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia. When comparing the effects of the three inhalational anaesthetics on the above mentioned parameters it denotes the following data: FABF and CSBF decrease more with halothane than enflurane and isoflurane anaesthesia. On the other hand, BP, CVR and SVR decrease more with enflurane than halothane and isoflurane anaesthesia, contrary to this the CVP increase more with enflurane than halothane and isoflurane anaesthesia. So, we can conclude that enflurane is more myocardial depressant, halothane in between and the least was isoflurane. On the other hand, isoflurane is a powerful coronary vasodilator more than the other two inhalational anaesthetics

Immunological status in anaesthetic personnel chronically exposed to nitrous oxide and halothane in operating theatre in Tanta University Hospitals

Immunological status of individuals occupationally and chronically exposed to low levels of halothane and nitrous oxide in unscavenging operating theatre was examined and compared with that of non-exposed controls. This study was conducted on 26 personnel of both sex, 9 controls [unexposed] and 17 exposed persons. The period of exposure was between 3-5 years. Haemoglobin concentration, red cell count and haematocrite value showed insignificant changes [P> 0.05] when compared with the control group. Also, segmented neutrohils, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes percentage did not alter significantll [P> 0.05] from the control group. On the other hand, the total leuococytic count showed significant decrease [P< 0.05] in exposed group when compared with the control group. Total T-lymphocytes [OKT3], OKT4 AND OKT8 percentages were significantly increased [P< 0.05] while their absolute numbers and OKT4/OKT8 ratio were insignificantly changed [P> 0.05] when compared with the non exposed group. No significant change [P> 0.05] were reported in serum I[g]a, I[g]m and I[g]e, but a significant diminution [P< 0.05] was found in I[g]g concentrations