Cardiac electrophysiologic interactions of bepridil, a new calcium antagonist, with enflurane, halothane, and isoflurane.

Bepridil is an investigational calcium antagonist that also has fast sodium channel blocking and antidysrhythmic properties. In the present study, the potential interactions of bepridil with volatile anesthetics on cardiac electrophysiologic parameters were evaluated in open-chest dogs. Twenty-four dogs anesthetized with enflurane (n=6), halothane (n=6), isoflurane (n=6), or chloralose (n=6) received 2.5 mg/kg of bepridil intravenously (IV). Twenty-five additional dogs anesthetized with enflurane (n=7), halothane (n=6), isoflurane (n=6), or chloralose (n=6), received bepridil, 5.0 mg/kg, IV. Dogs anesthetized with cloralose served as controls. Cardiac electrophysiologic parameters were measured after the dogs were anesthetized and were repeated 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after bepridil infusion. Plasma bepridil concentrations were also determined at the above time points. Synergy between bepridil and enflurane was demonstrated in the following cardiac electrophysiologic parameters: depression of sinus node function as evidenced by severe depression of sinus node automaticity and conduction; depression of atrioventricular function as evidenced by prolongation of the atrial-His bundle interval and the Wenckebach R-R interval; and, prolongation of the atrial effective refractory period. No synergy was demonstrated between bepridil and halothane or isoflurane when compared to bepridil's effects during chloralose anesthesia. It is concluded that significant synergistic cardiac electrophysiologic effects exist between bepridil and enflurane in dogs. It is recommended that caution be used when anesthetizing patients receiving bepridil with enflurane until human data on the use of this combination of pharmacologic agents is available.