The Effects of Sevoflurane on Isolated Gravid Human Myometrium

Abstract

The volatile anaesthetic agents are known to influence uterine muscle tone. All of the agents studied to date have been found to produce uterine relaxation. This property has been used to produce therapeutic uterine relaxation for difficult obstetric deliveries and the Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) procedure. This study describes the effects of sevoflurane on isolated human myometrium at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 MAC. Sevoflurane produces dose-dependent depression of uterine muscle contractility with an ED ₅₀ of 0.94 MAC. Frequency of contraction was increased at concentrations of 2.5 MAC and greater. At concentrations of 3.5 MAC and above, uterine activity was virtually abolished.