Effect of cigarette smoking on the washout time of sevoflurane anesthesia

Background Cigarette smoking affects the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic behavior of many drugs and causes deterioration of pulmonary mechanics. We have evaluated the effect of cigarette smoking on washout time after one minimum alveolar concentration-h (1 MAC-h) of sevoflurane anesthesia.Methods We investigated the washout time of sevoflurane in 30 non-smoking and 30 healthy cigarette smoking (>/=20 cigarettes/day for>1 year) ASA I-II physical status patients, aged 18-63 years, who were candidates for otorhinolaryngologic elective surgery under 1MAC-h standardized sevoflurane anesthesia. At the end of the surgery, the sevoflurane vaporizer was turned off and the time taken for the sevoflurane concentration to decrease to MAC-awake (0.3) and 0.1 MAC levels were recorded. In addition, the ratio of the fractions of inspired concentration (Fi) and expired concentration of sevoflurane (Fexp) at 1 MAC and Fexp of sevoflurane at 0.1MAC were recorded. The patients were mechanically ventilated during the washout time.Results We found no difference between the 2 study groups with regard to washout time of sevoflurane. The times of 1MAC down to MAC-awake (106 +/- 48 sec in non-smokers vs 97 +/- 37 sec in smokers, p > 0.05) and down to 0.1MAC (491 +/- 187 sec in non-smokers vs 409 +/- 130 sec in smokers, p > 0.05) were similar. Similarly, there were no significant differences in the ratios of Fi/Fexp at 1MAC (1.18 in non-smokers vs. 1.19 in smokers, p > 0.05) and Fexp of sevoflurane at 0.1MAC (0.26 in non-smokers vs. 0.25 in smokers, p > 0.05).Conclusions Washout time of 1MAC-h sevoflurane anesthesia is not appear to be effected by cigarette smoking in patients without significant pulmonary disease.