The Effect of Xenon Anesthesia on the Size of Experimental Myocardial Infarction

Noble gas and neuroprotection: From bench to bedside

In recent years, inert gases such as helium, argon, and xenon have gained considerable attention for their medical value. Noble gases present an intriguing scientific paradox: although extremely chemically inert, they display a remarkable spectrum of clinically useful biological properties. Despite a relative paucity of knowledge about their mechanisms of action, some noble gases have been used successfully in clinical practice. The neuroprotection elicited by these noble gases has been investigated in experimental animal models of various types of brain injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral ischemic/reperfusion injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. Collectively, these central nervous system injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality every year worldwide. Treatment options are presently limited to thrombolytic drugs and clot removal for ischemic stroke, or therapeutic cooling for other brain injuries before the application of noble gas. Currently, there is increasing interest in noble gases as novel treatments for various brain injuries. In recent years, neuroprotection elicited by particular noble gases, xenon, for example, has been reported under different conditions. In this article, we have reviewed the latest in vitro and in vivo experimental and clinical studies of the actions of xenon, argon, and helium, and discuss their potential use as neuroprotective agents.

Therapeutic hypothermia for acute myocardial infarction: a narrative review of evidence from animal and clinical studies

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death from coronary heart disease and requires immediate reperfusion therapy with thrombolysis, primary percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting. However, myocardial reperfusion therapy is often accompanied by cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which leads to myocardial injury with detrimental consequences. The causes of I/R injury are unclear, but are multifactorial, including free radicals, reactive oxygen species, calcium overload, mitochondria dysfunction, inflammation, and neutrophil-mediated vascular injury. Mild hypothermia has been introduced as one of the potential inhibitors of myocardial I/R injury. Although animal studies have demonstrated that mild hypothermia significantly reduces or delays I/R myocardium damage, human trials have not shown clinical benefits in acute MI (AMI). In addition, the practice of hypothermia treatment is increasing in various fields such as surgical anesthesia and intensive care units. Adequate sedation for anesthetic procedures and protection from body shivering has become essential during therapeutic hypothermia. Therefore, anesthesiologists should be aware of the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the metabolism of anesthetic drugs. In this paper, we review the existing data on the use of therapeutic hypothermia for AMI in animal models and human clinical trials to better understand the discrepancy between perceived benefits in preclinical animal models and the absence thereof in clinical trials thus far.

Cardioprotective Effect of Anesthetics: Translating Science to Practice

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of mortality in the world, particularly among the aging population. Major adverse cardiac events are also a major contributor to perioperative complications, affecting 2.6% of noncardiac surgeries and up to 18% of cardiac surgeries. Cardioprotective effects of volatile anesthetics and certain intravenous anesthetics have been well-documented in preclinical studies; however, their clinical application has yielded conflicting results in terms of their efficacy. Therefore, better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and developing effective ways to translate these insights into clinical practice remain significant challenges and unmet needs in the area. Several recent reviews have focused on mechanistic dissection of anesthetic-mediated cardioprotection. The present review focuses on recent clinical trials investigating the cardioprotective effects of anesthetics in the past five years. In addition to highlighting the main outcomes of these trials, the authors provide their perspectives about the current gap in the field and potential directions for future investigations.

Update of the organoprotective properties of xenon and argon: from bench to beside

The growth of the elderly population has led to an increase in patients with myocardial infarction and stroke (Wajngarten and Silva, Eur Cardiol 14: 111–115, 2019). Patients receiving treatment for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) highly profit from early reperfusion therapy under 3 h from the onset of symptoms. However, mortality from STEMI remains high due to the increase in age and comorbidities (Menees et al., N Engl J Med 369: 901–909, 2013). These factors also account for patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Reperfusion therapy has been established as the gold standard within the first 4 to 5 h after onset of symptoms (Powers et al., Stroke 49: e46-e110, 2018). Nonetheless, not all patients are eligible for reperfusion therapy. The same is true for traumatic brain injury patients. Due to the complexity of acute myocardial and central nervous injury (CNS), finding organ protective substances to improve the function of remote myocardium and the ischaemic penumbra of the brain is urgent. This narrative review focuses on the noble gases argon and xenon and their possible cardiac, renal and neuroprotectant properties in the elderly high-risk (surgical) population. The article will provide an overview of the latest experimental and clinical studies. It is beyond the scope of this review to give a detailed summary of the mechanistic understanding of organ protection by xenon and argon.

Closed circuit xenon delivery for 72h in neonatal piglets following hypoxic insult using an ambient pressure automated control system: Development, technical evaluation and pulmonary effects

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) for 72h is the standard treatment following neonatal encephalopathy (NE). However, one-third do not benefit and adjunctive therapies are urgently needed. Xenon enhances neuroprotection with TH when administered at 50% concentration within 5hours of hypoxia in experimental studies. Delayed initiation (~10 hours of age) of 30% xenon for 24 hours during TH did not improve early adverse biomarkers in a clinical trial of Xenon+TH vs TH. After hypoxia-ischemia, excitotoxic injury via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor overactivation lasts days. Since xenon partially inhibits this receptor, we hypothesised that giving 50% xenon throughout the entire 72h TH and rewarming periods would enhance neuroprotection. Xenon costs $30/litre, so a closed-circuit breathing system is desirable with automated fresh gas delivery.

METHODS

Seven mechanically ventilated newborn pigs were randomized to receive 50% inhaled xenon for 72h during hypothermia (rectal-temperature 35°C) and subsequent rewarming following a global hypoxic-ischemic insult (XeHT, N = 4) or under normothermia for 72h (rectal-temperature 38.5°C) following sham insult (XeNT, N = 3). An automated fresh gas delivery system injected oxygen/air/xenon boluses into a closed-circuit based on measured gas concentrations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Median (IQR) xenon consumption was 0.31 L/h (0.18, 0.50) and 0.34L/h (0.32, 0.49) for hypothermic and normothermic groups respectively, 0.34L/h (0.25, 0.53) overall. 92% of 9626 xenon and 69% of 9635 oxygen measurements were within 20% variation from targets. For xenon concentration, the median absolute performance errors for the XeHT and XeNT groups were 6.14% and 3.84% respectively and 4.31% overall. For oxygen these values were 13.42%, 15.05% and 12.4% respectively. There were no adverse pulmonary pathophysiology findings. Clinical problems over the total period included three related to sensors, seven breathing system leaks, ten partial and one complete tracheal tube occlusion episodes.

CONCLUSION

The automated controller functioned as intended maintaining an inhaled xenon concentration close to the 50% target for 72-78h at a xenon cost of $11.1/h.

Pretreatment With Argon Protects Human Cardiac Myocyte-Like Progenitor Cells from Oxygen Glucose Deprivation-Induced Cell Death by Activation of AKT and Differential Regulation of Mapkinases

BACKGROUND

The noble gas argon induces cardioprotection in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. However, no studies in human primary cells or subjects have been performed so far. We used human cardiac myocyte-like progenitor cells (HCMs) to investigate the protective effect on the cellular level.

METHODS

HCMs were pretreated with 30% or 50% argon before oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and reperfusion. We evaluated apoptotic states by flow cytometry and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) members extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPkinase, and protein kinase B (Akt) by Westernblot analysis and by activity assays of downstream transcription factors. Specific inhibitors were used to proof a significant participation of these pathways in the protection by argon. Beneficial effects were further assessed by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA), and cytokine release.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with 30% or 50% argon for 90 min before OGD resulted in a significant protection of HCMs against apoptosis. This effect was reversed by the application of MAPK and Akt inhibitors during argon exposure. Argon 30% reduced the release of LDH by 33% and mtDNA by 45%. The release of interleukin 1β was reduced by 44% after OGD and more than 90% during reperfusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Pretreatment with argon protects HCMs from apoptosis under ischemic conditions via activation of Akt, Erk, and biphasic regulation of JNK. Argon gas is cheap and easily administrable, and might be a novel therapy to reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Inhaled Gases for Neuroprotection of Neonates: A Review

Importance: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in neonates. The incidence of HIE is 1-8 per 1,000 live births in developed countries. Whole-body hypothermia reduces the risk of disability or death, but 7 infants needed to be treated to prevent death or major neurodevelopmental disability. Inhalational gases may be promising synergistic agents due to their rapid onset and easy titratability. Objective: To review current data on different inhaled gases with neuroprotective properties that may serve as adjunct therapies to hypothermia. Evidence review: Literature review was performed using the PubMed database, google scholar, and ClinicalTrials.Gov. Results focused on articles published from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2017. Articles published earlier than 2005 were included when appropriate for historical perspective. Our review emphasized preclinical and clinical studies relevant to the use of inhaled agents for neuroprotection. Findings: Based on the relevance to our topic, 111 articles were selected pertaining to the incidence of HIE, pathophysiology of HIE, therapeutic hypothermia, and emerging therapies for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in preclinical and clinical settings. Supplemental tables summarizes highly relevant 49 publications that were included in this review. The selected publications emphasize the emergence of promising inhaled gases that may improve neurologic survival and alleviate neurodevelopmental disability when combined with therapeutic hypothermia in the future. Conclusions: Many inhaled agents have neuroprotective properties and could serve as an adjunct therapy to whole-body hypothermia. Inhaled agents are ideal due to their easy administration, titrability, and rapid onset and offset.

Renal function following xenon anesthesia for partial nephrectomy-An explorative analysis of a randomized controlled study

Background

Perioperative preservation of renal function has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in kidney surgery. Nephroprotective effects of the anesthetic xenon on ischemia-reperfusion injury were found in several experimental studies.

Objective

We aimed to explore whether xenon anesthesia can reduce renal damage in humans undergoing partial nephrectomy and to gather pilot data of possible nephroprotection in these patients.

Design

A prospective randomized, single-blinded, controlled study.

Setting

Single-center, University Hospital of Aachen, Germany between July 2013-October 2015.

Patients

Forty-six patients with regular renal function undergoing partial nephrectomy.

Interventions

Patients were randomly assigned to receive xenon- (n = 23) or isoflurane (n = 23) anesthesia.

Main outcome measures

Primary outcome was the maximum postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline within seven days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative and tumor-related data, assessment of further kidney injury markers, adverse events and optional determination of renal function after 3–6 months.

Results

Unexpected radical nephrectomy was performed in 5 patients, thus they were excluded from the per-protocol analysis, but included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The maximum postoperative GFR decline was attenuated by 45% in the xenon-group (10.9 ml min^-1 1.73 cm^-2 versus 19.7 ml min^-1 1.73 cm^-2 in the isoflurane group), but without significance (P = 0.084). Occurrence of adverse events was reduced (P = 0.003) in the xenon group. Renal function was similar among the groups after 3–6 months.

Conclusion

Xenon anesthesia was feasible and safe in patients undergoing partial nephrectomy with regard to postoperative renal function. We found no significant effect on early renal function but less adverse events in the xenon group. Larger randomized controlled studies in more heterogeneous collectives are required, to confirm or refute the possible clinical benefit on renal function by xenon.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01839084 and EudraCT 2012-005698-30

Argon Exposure Induces Postconditioning in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damages remains a major concern during prehospital management of acute myocardial infarction. Noble gases have shown beneficial effects in preconditioning studies. Because emergency proceedings in the context of myocardial infarction require postconditioning strategies, we evaluated the effects of argon in such protocols on mammalian cardiac tissue.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES

In rat, cardiac I/R was induced in vivo by transient coronary artery ligature and cardiac functions were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R)-induced arrhythmias were evaluated in vitro using intracellular microelectrodes on both rat-isolated ventricle and a model of border zone in guinea pig ventricle. Hypoxia-reoxygenation loss of contractile force was assessed in human atrial appendages. In those models, postconditioning was induced by 5 minutes application of argon at the time of reperfusion.

KEY RESULTS

In the in vivo model, I/R produced left ventricular ejection fraction decrease (24%) and wall motion score increase (36%) which was prevented when argon was applied in postconditioning. In vitro, argon postconditioning abolished H/R-induced arrhythmias such as early after depolarizations, conduction blocks, and reentries. Recovery of contractile force in human atrial appendages after H/R was enhanced in the argon group, increasing from 51% ± 2% in the nonconditioned group to 83% ± 7% in the argon-treated group ( P < .001). This effect of argon was abolished in the presence of wortmannin and PD98059 which inhibit prosurvival phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and MEK/extracellular receptor kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), respectively, or in the presence of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opener atractyloside, suggesting the involvement of the reperfusion injury salvage kinase pathway.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Argon has strong cardioprotective properties when applied in conditions of postconditioning and thus appears as a potential therapeutic tool in I/R situations.

Xenon protects left ventricular diastolic function during acute ischemia, less than ischemic preconditioning

Anesthetics modify regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion but their effects on global function in this setting are less clear. Aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that xenon would limit global LV dysfunction as caused by acute anterior wall ischemia, comparable to ischemic preconditioning. In an open-chest model under thiopental anesthesia, 30 pigs underwent 60-minute left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion, followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion. A xenon group (constant inhalation from previous to ischemia through end of reperfusion) was compared to control and ischemic preconditioning. Load-independent measures of diastolic function (end-diastolic pressure-volume relation, time constant of relaxation) and systolic function (end-systolic pressure-volume relation, preload-recruitable stroke work) were determined. Heart rate, arterial pressure, cardiac output, and arterial elastance were recorded. Data were compared in 26 pigs. Ischemia impaired global diastolic but not systolic function in control, which recovered during reperfusion. Xenon limited and preconditioning abolished diastolic dysfunction during ischemia. Arterial pressure decreased during reperfusion while arterial elastance increased. Tachycardia and antero-septal wall edema during reperfusion were observed in all groups. In spite of ischemia of 40% of LV mass, global systolic function was preserved. Deterioration in global diastolic function was limited by xenon and prevented by preconditioning.

Xenon improves neurologic outcome and reduces secondary injury following trauma in an in vivo model of traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVES

To determine the neuroprotective efficacy of the inert gas xenon following traumatic brain injury and to determine whether application of xenon has a clinically relevant therapeutic time window.

DESIGN

Controlled animal study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Male C57BL/6N mice (n = 196).

INTERVENTIONS

Seventy-five percent xenon, 50% xenon, or 30% xenon, with 25% oxygen (balance nitrogen) treatment following mechanical brain lesion by controlled cortical impact.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Outcome following trauma was measured using 1) functional neurologic outcome score, 2) histological measurement of contusion volume, and 3) analysis of locomotor function and gait. Our study shows that xenon treatment improves outcome following traumatic brain injury. Neurologic outcome scores were significantly (p < 0.05) better in xenon-treated groups in the early phase (24 hr) and up to 4 days after injury. Contusion volume was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the xenon-treated groups. Xenon treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced contusion volume when xenon was given 15 minutes after injury or when treatment was delayed 1 or 3 hours after injury. Neurologic outcome was significantly (p < 0.05) improved when xenon treatment was given 15 minutes or 1 hour after injury. Improvements in locomotor function (p < 0.05) were observed in the xenon-treated group, 1 month after trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show for the first time that xenon improves neurologic outcome and reduces contusion volume following traumatic brain injury in mice. In this model, xenon application has a therapeutic time window of up to at least 3 hours. These findings support the idea that xenon may be of benefit as a neuroprotective treatment in patients with brain trauma.

Combined treatment of xenon and hypothermia in newborn rats--additive or synergistic effect?

BACKGROUND

Breathing the inert gas Xenon (Xe) enhances hypothermic (HT) neuroprotection after hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in small and large newborn animal models. The underlying mechanism of the enhancement is not yet fully understood, but the combined effect of Xe and HT could either be synergistic (larger than the two effects added) or simply additive. A previously published study, using unilateral carotid ligation followed by hypoxia in seven day old (P7) rats, showed that the combination of mild HT (35°C) and low Xe concentration (20%), both not being neuroprotective alone, had a synergistic effect and was neuroprotective when both were started with a 4 h delay after a moderate HI insult. To examine whether another laboratory could confirm this finding, we repeated key aspects of the study.

DESIGN/METHODS

After the HI-insult 120 pups were exposed to different post-insult treatments: three temperatures (normothermia (NT) NT37°C, HT35°C, HT32°C) or Xe concentrations (0%, 20% or 50%) starting either immediately or with a 4 h delay. To assess the synergistic potency of Xe-HT, a second set (n = 101) of P7 pups were exposed to either HT35°C+Xe0%, NT+Xe20% or a combination of HT35°C+Xe20% starting with a 4 h delay after the insult. Brain damage was analyzed using relative hemispheric (ligated side/unligated side) brain tissue area loss after seven day survival.

RESULTS

Immediate HT32°C (p = 0.042), but not HT35°C significantly reduced brain injury compared to NT37°C. As previously shown, adding immediate Xe50% to HT32°C increased protection. Neither 4 h-delayed Xe20%, nor Xe50% at 37°C significantly reduced brain injury (p>0.050). In addition, neither 4 h-delayed HT35°C alone, nor HT35°C+Xe20% reduced brain injury. We found no synergistic effect of the combined treatments in this experimental model.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining two treatments that individually were ineffective (delayed HT35°C and delayed Xe20%) did not exert neuroprotection when combined, and therefore did not show a synergistic treatment effect.

Xenon ventilation during therapeutic hypothermia in neonatal encephalopathy: a feasibility study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Therapeutic hypothermia has become standard of care in newborns with moderate and severe neonatal encephalopathy; however, additional interventions are needed. In experimental models, breathing xenon gas during cooling offers long-term additive neuroprotection. This is the first xenon feasibility study in cooled infants. Xenon is expensive, requiring a closed-circuit delivery system.

METHODS

Cooled newborns with neonatal encephalopathy were eligible for this single-arm, dose-escalation study if clinically stable, under 18 hours of age and requiring less than 35% oxygen. Xenon duration increased stepwise from 3 to 18 hours in 14 subjects; 1 received 25% xenon and 13 received 50%. Respiratory, cardiovascular, neurologic (ie, amplitude-integrated EEG, seizures), and inflammatory (C-reactive protein) effects were examined. The effects of starting or stopping xenon rapidly or slowly were studied. Three matched control subjects per xenon treated subject were selected from our cooling database. Follow-up was at 18 months using mental developmental and physical developmental indexes of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II.

RESULTS

No adverse respiratory or cardiovascular effects, including post-extubation stridor, were seen. Xenon increased sedation and suppressed seizures and background electroencephalographic activity. Seizures sometimes occurred during rapid weaning of xenon but not during slow weaning. C-reactive protein levels were similar between groups. Hourly xenon consumption was 0.52 L. Three died, and 7 of 11 survivors had mental and physical developmental index scores ≥70 at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Breathing 50% xenon for up to 18 hours with 72 hours of cooling was feasible, with no adverse effects seen with 18 months' follow-up.

A xenon recirculating ventilator for the newborn piglet: developing clinical applications of xenon for neonates

CONTEXT

The clinical applications of xenon for the neonate include both anaesthesia and neuroprotection. However, due to the limited natural availability of xenon, special equipment is required to administer and recapture the gas to develop xenon as a therapeutic agent.

OBJECTIVE

In order to test the xenon recirculating ventilator for the application of neuroprotection in a preclinical trial, our primary objective was to test the efficiency, reliability and safety of administering 50% xenon for 24 h in hypoxic ischaemic piglets.

DESIGN

A prospective observational study.

SETTING

Institute for Women's Health, University College London, January 2008 to March 2008.

ANIMALS

Four anaesthetised male piglets, less than 24 h old, underwent a global hypoxic ischaemic insult for approximately 25 min prior to switching to the xenon recirculating ventilator.

INTERVENTION

Between 2 and 26 h after hypoxic ischaemia, anaesthetised piglets were administered a mixture of 50% xenon, air, oxygen and isoflurane.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was blood gas PaCO2 (kPa) and secondary outcome measure was xenon gas use (l h), over the 24-h duration of xenon administration.

RESULTS

The xenon recirculating ventilator provided effective ventilation, automated control of xenon/air gas mixtures, and stable blood gas PaCO2 (4.5 to 6.3 kPa) for 24 h of ventilation with the xenon recirculating ventilator. Total xenon use was minimal at approximately 0.6 l h at a cost of approximately &OV0556;8 h. Additional features included an isoflurane scavenger and bellows height alarm.

CONCLUSION

Stable gas delivery to a piglet with minimal xenon loss and analogue circuitry made the xenon recirculating ventilator easy to use and it could be modified for other large animals and noble gas mixtures. The technologies, safety and efficiency of xenon delivery in this preclinical system have been taken forward in the development of neonatal ventilators for clinical use in phase II clinical trials for xenon-augmented hypothermia and for xenon anaesthesia.

Xenon preconditioning: molecular mechanisms and biological effects

Xenon is one of noble gases and has been recognized as an anesthetic for more than 50 years. Xenon possesses many of the characteristics of an ideal anesthetic, but it is not widely applied in clinical practice mainly because of its high cost. In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated that xenon as an anesthetic can exert neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects in different models. Moreover, xenon has been applied in the preconditioning, and the neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects of xenon preconditioning have been investigated in a lot of studies in which some mechanisms related to these protections are proposed. In this review, we summarized these mechanisms and the biological effects of xenon preconditioning.

Effects of xenon and isoflurane on apoptosis and inflammation in a porcine myocardial infarction model

Volatile anaesthetics can reduce the infarction size in myocardial tissue when administered before and during experimentally induced ischaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate whether xenon is beneficial compared to isoflurane in limiting myocardial tissue apoptosis and inflammation induced by experimental ischaemia-reperfusion injury in a porcine right ventricular infarction model. Twenty-one animals used for this study randomly received isoflurane, xenon or thiopental, (n=6-8 per group). Myocardial infarction was induced for 90min, followed by reperfusion for 120min. Tissues from the left and right ventricles were removed from the sites of infarction, reperfusion and remote areas, and processed for immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis (caspase-3 staining) and neutrophilic infiltration (naphthol AS-D chloroacetate-specific esterase) were assessed and evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using an ANOVA of repeated measures. Density of apoptotic cells were higher in tissues from animals that were anesthetized with xenon. This effect was significant in comparison to isoflurane (p=0.0177). Neutrophilic infiltration was significantly higher in the right compared to the left ventricle (p<0.001), whereas no significant differences in the number of granulocytes based on the anaesthetic regime or the different tissue areas were found. We conclude that xenon, in the early phase of ischaemia and reperfusion, induces a significant increase in apoptosis compared to isoflurane. Therefore, clinical use of this anaesthetic in cardiocompromised patients should be taken with care until more long-term studies have been carried out. The increased neutrophilic infiltration in the right vs. the left ventricle indicates the right ventricle being more susceptible to ischaemia-reperfusion injury.

Inhalation of hydrogen gas protects against myocardial stunning and infarction in swine

OBJECTIVES

The present study was carried out to determine whether inhalation of hydrogen (H(2)) gas protects myocardium against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in swine.

DESIGN

In anesthetized open-chest swine, myocardial stunning was produced by 12-minute occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by 90-minute reperfusion in the first study. Group A inhaled 100% oxygen, and group B inhaled 2% H(2) plus 98% oxygen during ischemia and reperfusion. In the second study, myocardial infarction was produced by 40-minute occlusion of LAD followed by 120-minute reperfusion. Group C inhaled 100% oxygen during ischemia and reperfusion. Group D inhaled 2% H(2) plus 98% oxygen. Group E inhaled 4% H(2) plus 96% oxygen.

RESULTS

The change of segment shortening (%SS) from baseline at 90 minutes after reperfusion in group B was 74 ± 13 (mean ± SD) %, which was significantly higher than that in group A (48 ± 15%). Myocardial infarct size in group E (32 ± 10%), but not in group D (40 ± 9%) was smaller than that in group C (46 ± 6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Inhalation of 2% H(2) gas improves myocardial stunning, and inhalation of 4% but not 2% H(2) gas reduces myocardial infarct size in swine.

Xenon anesthesia for liver transplant surgery: a report of four cases

It is well established that patients presenting for orthotopic liver transplantation pose challenging surgical and anesthesiological problems. Intraoperatively, severe hemodynamic instability due to profuse bleeding and acute cardiomyopathy during reperfusion are major concerns. In addition, ischemia-reperfusion injury can compromise postoperative graft function. Xenon, with its potential to maintain hemodynamic stability, preserve cardiac function, and protect the liver graft of the recipient, seems to be a promising anesthetic agent for liver transplant surgery. To date, xenon has not been used as an anesthetic in liver transplantations. We therefore have reported our initial experience with four patients who underwent orthotopic deceased donor liver transplantation under xenon anesthesia. Although all patients had advanced liver disease and experienced significant intraoperative bleeding, their intraoperative courses, including reperfusion, under xenon anesthesia were remarkably stable. The patients required only moderate, temporary catecholamine support, which was withdrawn at the end of the surgery. Xenon anesthesia for liver transplant procedures proved to be feasible. Immediate postoperative organ function was satisfactory in all patients.

Postconditioning by xenon and hypothermia in the rat heart in vivo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Hypothermia protects against myocardial reperfusion injury. However, inducing hypothermia takes time, which makes it unsuitable as an emergency treatment. Combining mild hypothermia with low-dose xenon, applied either simultaneously or one after the other, protects the neonatal rat brain against reperfusion injury. We investigated whether xenon, administered prior to hypothermia or simultaneously with hypothermia, also protects the rat heart from reperfusion injury.

METHODS

Anaesthetized rats (chloralose, ketamine, diazepam) were randomly allocated to five groups and subjected to 25 min coronary artery occlusion, followed by 120 min reperfusion. At the onset of reperfusion, controls received no intervention and inhaled oxygen in air with an inspired oxygen fraction of 0.8 (Con80). Further groups received either 1 h of mild hypothermia of 34 degrees C (Hypo34) or 30 min of xenon 20% (Xe20). Additional groups received xenon 20% and hypothermia 34 degrees C simultaneously (Xe20 + Hypo34) or in succession (Xe20-->Hypo34). Infarct sizes were assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.

RESULTS

The combination of xenon 20% and hypothermia 34 degrees C significantly reduced infarct size [Xe20 + Hypo34: 55(22)%, mean (SD)] compared with control [Con80: 76(12)%, P = 0.03]. Xenon and hypothermia in succession produced no infarct size reduction.

CONCLUSION

The combination of xenon 20% and hypothermia of 34 degrees C, applied during early reperfusion, reduces infarct size in the rat heart in vivo.

[Current developments in xenon research. Importance for anesthesia and intensive care medicine]

The noble gas xenon exerts favorable anesthetic properties along with remarkable hemodynamic stability in healthy patients undergoing elective surgery. It represents the nearly ideal anesthetic and provides safe and well controllable anesthesia although the exact mechanism by which xenon produces anesthesia remains to be elucidated. In addition xenon offers organ protective properties for vital organs including the brain, heart and kidneys which seem to be synergistic when used in combination with therapeutic hypothermia. As the high cost of xenon will probably preclude its wider use as a routine anesthetic, data from extensive tests in large numbers of high risk patients is needed to confirm its possible superiority in this setting.

[Benefits and indications of xenon anaesthesia]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the current knowledge related to xenon anaesthesia.

DATA SOURCES

References were obtained from computerized bibliographic research (Medline), recent review articles, the library of the service and personal files.

STUDY SELECTION

All categories of articles on this topic have been selected.

DATA EXTRACTION

Articles have been analyzed for biophysics, pharmacology, toxicity and environmental effects, clinical effects and using prospect.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The noble gas xenon has anaesthetic properties that have been recognized 50 years ago. Xenon is receiving renewed interest because it has many characteristics of an ideal anaesthetic. In addition to its lack of effects on cardiovascular system, xenon has a low solubility enabling faster induction of and emergence from anaesthesia than with other inhalational agents. Nevertheless, at present, the cost and rarity of xenon limits widespread use in clinical practice. The development of closed rebreathing system that allowed recycling of xenon and therefore reducing its waste has led to a recent interest in this gas.

CONCLUSION

Reducing its cost will help xenon to find its place among anaesthetic agents and extend its use to severe patients with specific pathologies.

Xenon and isoflurane improved biventricular function during right ventricular ischemia and reperfusion

BACKGROUND

Although anesthetics have some cardioprotective properties, these benefits are often counterbalanced by their negative inotropic effects. Xenon, on the other hand, does not influence myocardial contractility. Thus, xenon may be a superior treatment for the maintenance of global hemodynamics, especially during right ventricular ischemia, which is generally characterized by a high acute complication rate.

METHODS

The effects of 70 vol% xenon and 0.9 vol% isoflurane on biventricular function were assessed in a porcine model (n=36) using the conductance catheter technique, and the expression of the type B natriuretic peptide (BNP) gene was measured. The animals underwent 90 min of right ventricular ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion. A barbiturate-anesthetized group was included as a control.

RESULTS

Cardiac output was compromised in unprotected animals during ischemia by 33+/-18% and during reperfusion by 53+/-17%. This was mainly due to impaired contractility in the left ventricle (LV) and increased stiffness. Isoflurane attenuated the increase in stiffness and resulted in a higher preload. In contrast, xenon increased the right ventricular afterload, which was compensated by an increase in contractility. Its effects on diastolic function were less pronounced. Upregulation of BNP mRNA expression was impeded in the remote area of the LV by both isoflurane and xenon.

CONCLUSIONS

Xenon and isoflurane demonstrated equipotent effects in preventing the hemodynamic compromise that is induced by right ventricular ischemia and reperfusion, although they acted through somewhat differential inotropic and vasodilatory effects.

The effect of xenon on isoflurane protection against experimental myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

To investigate if the protective effects of xenon and isoflurane against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion damage would be additive.

DESIGN

A prospective, randomized laboratory investigation.

SETTING

An animal laboratory of a university hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Thirty-six pigs (female German landrace).

INTERVENTIONS

In an open-chest preparation with thiopental anesthesia, the left anterior descending artery was occluded to produce ischemia for 60 minutes. One hour previously, ischemic preconditioning, isoflurane (0.55 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC]) alone, or isoflurane together with xenon (0.55 MAC each) were started in the respective groups. A fourth (control) group received no protective intervention. Myocardial ischemia was followed by 2 hours of reperfusion.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Hearts were excised and stained (Evans Blue/TTC) to measure infarct size as related to the area at risk. Myocardial infarct size was reduced (means +/- standard deviation) from 64% +/- 9% of the area at risk in the control group to 19% +/- 12% with ischemic preconditioning to 46% +/- 12% with isoflurane and to 39% +/- 13% with isoflurane and xenon. All intervention groups were significantly different from the control (p < 0.05), and both anesthetic groups were significantly different from ischemic preconditioning (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Combined isoflurane/xenon anesthesia reduced infarct size but not more than isoflurane alone. Ischemic preconditioning was more effective than the anesthetics.

Update on pharmacology of hypnotic drugs

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review is intended to provide an update on pharmacology of hypnotic drugs and current state of published research for new or improved agents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Albeit no completely new drugs have been launched in the last few years, research on pharmacology of existing drugs is still ongoing, and new formulations of existing drugs are proposed (propofol, isoflurane). Xenon, an old but so far unavailable drug, has elicited new interests and this review will examine the recent publications on this fascinating agent.

SUMMARY

These results will improve our handling of existing drugs and open new perspectives on drug monitoring through measurement of propofol concentrations in expired air.

Establishment of a porcine right ventricular infarction model for cardioprotective actions of xenon and isoflurane

BACKGROUND

Right ventricular (RV) function is an important determinant of post-operative outcome. Consequences of RV infarction might be limited by pre-conditioning with volatile anesthetic drugs. Therefore, we used a porcine model of RV ischemia and reperfusion (IR) injury to study the influence of isoflurane and xenon on the extent and degree of myocardial injury.

METHODS

IR injury was induced by a 90-min ligation of the distal right coronary artery and 120-min reperfusion in thiopental anesthetized pigs. A control group (n=12) was compared with two groups, which received either 0.55 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) isoflurane (n=10) or xenon (n=12) starting 60 min before ischemia. Myocardial injury was described by three criteria: the infarct size related to area at risk (IS/AAR), the infiltration of neutrophils as determined by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and the plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), myoglobin and troponin-T (TnT).

RESULTS

IS/AAR was reduced from 58.3+/-6.2% in the control group to 41.8+/-7.8% after isoflurane and 42.7+/-8.5% after xenon pre-treatment, which equals an absolute reduction of 16.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9-22.1] and 15.5% (95% CI: 10.1-20.9). The maximum increase of TnT could be observed within the xenon group. Both treatment groups were characterized by lower MPO activity, in the infarct and periinfarct region and lower plasma concentrations of TNFalpha and IL-6.

CONCLUSIONS

It could be demonstrated for the first time in a model of RV infarction that the continuous application of isoflurane or xenon before, during and after ischemia reduced the extent (size) and severity (inflammation) of myocardial injury.

Xenon alters right ventricular function

BACKGROUND

In contrast to other volatile anesthetics, xenon produces less cardiovascular depression with fewer fluctuations of various hemodynamic parameters, but reduces cardiac output (CO) in vivo. Besides an increase in left ventricular afterload and reduction of heart rate, an impairment of the right ventricular function might be an additional pathophysiological mechanism for the reduction of CO. Therefore, we used an animal model to study the effects of xenon as a supplemental anesthetic on right ventricular function, especially right ventricular afterload.

METHODS

Right ventricular function was monitored with a volumetric pulmonary artery catheter in 11 pigs during general anesthesia with thiopental. Six animals received additional 70% (volume) xenon (equivalent to 0.55 MAC minimum alveolar concentration). Parameters for systolic function, afterload, and preload were calculated at baseline and during 50 min of xenon application, and in a corresponding control group. Significant differences were detected by multivariate analyses of variance for repeated measures.

RESULTS

Xenon reduced CO on average by 30% and increased pulmonary arterial elastance by 60%, which led to a reduction of the right ventricular ejection fraction by 25%. Whereas right ventricular preload remained stable, maximal slope of pulmonary artery pressure and the right ventricular elastance increased. No effect on the ratio of stroke work and end-diastolic volume was found.

CONCLUSION

The reduction in CO during xenon anesthesia was partly due to an impairment of the right ventricular function, mainly caused by an increased afterload, without an impairment of systolic ventricular function.

Xenon or propofol anaesthesia for patients at cardiovascular risk in non-cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND

The results of two European multi-centre trials on xenon anaesthesia led to the hypothesis that a xenon-based anaesthetic would keep left ventricular (LV) and circulatory function more stable than a propofol-based anaesthetic, in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

In a prospective, randomized design, 40 patients of ASA classes III and IV with known CAD were anaesthetized for elective non-cardiac surgery with either xenon (n=20) or propofol (n=20), each combined with remifentanil. Target criteria were intraoperative LV function as evaluated by transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE: Tei index, circumferential fibre shortening), arterial pressure, and heart rate (HR).

RESULTS

Mean arterial pressure was decreased with propofol but was stable at pre-anaesthetic level with xenon (P<0.02) and HR was lower with xenon (P<0.01). The Tei index (also known as myocardial performance index) improved from 0.53 (0.14) to 0.45 (0.10) after 1 h with xenon and changed from 0.50 (0.14) to 0.55 (0.20) with propofol anaesthesia [means (SD); P=0.01 between the groups]. Deviation of circumferential fibre shortening from expected value after 1 h was -2 (14)% with xenon and -14 (18)% with propofol [means (SD); P=0.03]. There were no perioperative signs of acute myocardial ischaemia (TOE, ECG, and troponin T release).

CONCLUSIONS

Xenon anaesthesia provided a higher arterial pressure level than propofol, with no signs of cardiovascular compromise, in patients with CAD. Echocardiographic indices showed better LV function with xenon.