Evaluation of the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia on alveolar epithelial permeability by Tc-99m DTPA inhalation scintigraphy

Aim: Recently studies showed that volatile anesthetics affect the ciliary beat frequency in vitro. We know that impairment of ciliary beat frequency is related to a risk of pulmonary complications with general anesthesia. Other studies have also shown that exposure to a volatile anesthetic can increase the permeability of the alveolar–capillary barrier. The present study aimed to determine the effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia on the technetium-labeled diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (Tc-99m DTPA) clearance rate of the alveolar epithelium. Materials and methods: A total of 40 patients who underwent elective tympanoplasty with general anesthesia were included in this study. Patients having any systemic disease or infection, or with any property that affected lung functions, were excluded from the study. Patients were randomized into 2 groups (20 patients in each) as receiving sevoflurane and desflurane. A Tc-99m DTPA aerosol inhalation lung imaging method was used to assess lung functions. Results: Demographic properties were similar in both groups. There were no significant differences between basal and postoperative lung clearance of inhaled Tc-99m DTPA in either group. Conclusion: We propose that neither sevoflurane nor desflurane induces pulmonary alveolar capillary injury in the acute period of general anesthesia based on Tc-99m DTPA scan results.