Pulmonary function and tissue oxygenation studies during anesthetic induction with etomidate.

The modifications of pulmonary function and peripheral oxygenation arising during anesthetic induction with Etomidate were studied in 36 unpremedicated patients programmed for elective surgery. The evaluation was carried out through measurement of ventilatory parameters and of the blood gases and oxygen saturation in arterial and mixed venous blood, calculation of the cardiac output, and derivation of data of peripheral oxygenation. A global reduction of the minute volume was observed with a minimal effect on the blood-gas values. The arterial blood oxygenation was reduced during the anesthesia time due to increased alveolo-arterial oxygen gradients and to increased intrapulmonary shunt. The tissular oxygenation data evidenced no significant alterations.