[The effect of local anaesthetics on uterine blood flow and O2-consumption in non-pregnant sheep (author's transl)].

11 non-pregnant sheep were prepared for chronic studies with an electromagnetic flow transducer placed around one uterine artery and with catheters in both uterine veins, aorta and inferior vena cava. The 4 local anaesthetics bupivacaine, etidocaine, lignocaine and chloroprocaine were infused intravenously on consecutive days in a randomized manner. During the infusions of all 4 local anaesthetics, uterine blood flow decreased due to an increase of uterine vascular resistance. The uterine arteriovenous O2-difference increased, while the uterine O2-consumption decreased without development of an acidosis of the uterus. The same changes were observed in 8 animals, to which oestrone had been administered intravenously prior to the infusions of local anaesthetics. Local anaesthetics had the same effects in the non-pregnant and pregnant uterus. A direct vasoconstrictive mechanism on the uterine vessels as well as a depressing effect on metabolism is discussed for the local anaesthetics.