Desflurane-mediated Sympathetic Activation Occurs in Humans Despite Preventing Hypotension and Baroreceptor Unloading

Abstract

The increase in basal levels of SNA with increasing concentrations of desflurane persisted despite "fixing" BP and thus is probably not due to hypotension and unloading of the baroreceptors. Further, the preservation of reflex increases in SNA to nitroprusside during desflurane indicates that desflurane preserves one component of the baroreflex in humans when BP is "fixed."