The depressant effects of halothane, enflurane and methoxyflurane at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MAC on isolated human gravid uterine muscle have been studied. The muscle samples were obtained from women undergoing caesarean section at between 38 and 41 weeks gestation. All three agents produced depression of uterine muscle contractility and of contraction frequency. There were no significant differences between the degree of depression of the uterine muscle at equipotent concentrations of the three volatile agents. Differing concentrations of the same agent over the range 0.5 to 1.5 MAC produced no significant change in the uterine muscle depression.
MoirD.D.Anaesthesia for caesarean section. An evaluation of a method using low concentrations of halothane and 50 per cent oxygen. Br J Anaesth1970; 42: 136.
2.
LattoI.P., WainwrightA.C.Anaesthesia for caesarean section. Br J Anaesth1972; 44: 1050.
3.
ColemanA.J., DowningJ.W.Enflurane anaesthesia for caesarean section. Anesthesiology1975; 43: 354.
4.
MarxG.F., KimY.I., LinC., HalveyS., SchulmanH.Postpartum uterine pressures under halothane or enflurane anesthesia. Obstet Gynecol1978; 51: 695.
5.
MunsonS., EmbroW.J.Enflurane, isoflurane and halothane and isolated human uterine muscle. Anesthesiology1977; 46: 11.
6.
RosenbergP.H.Inhibition of the effect of oxytocin by methoxyflurane in vitro. Canad Anaesth Soc J1973; 20: 559.
7.
SaidmanL.J., EgerE.I., MunsonE.S., BakadE.A., MuallemM.Minimum alveolar concentrations of methoxyflurane, halothane, ether, and cyclopropane in man: correlation with theories of anesthesia. Anesthesiology1967; 28: 994.
8.
GionH., SaidmanL.J.The minimum alveolar concentration of enflurane in man. Anesthesiology1971; 35: 361.
9.
Caldeyro-BarciaR., PoseiroJ.J.Oxytocin and contractility of the pregnant human uterus. Ann NY Acad Sci1959; 75: 813.
10.
WhittleM.J., MillerF.C.The evaluation of uterine activity. Am J Obstet Gynecol1980; 136: 38.
11.
TorriG., DamiaG., FabianiM.L., FrovaG.Uptake and elimination of enflurane in man. Br J Anaesth1972; 44: 789.
