Effects of repeated sevoflurane anesthesia on renal function: An animal study

Purpose: The effect of repeated administrations of sevoflurane in rats was evaluated with free inorganic plasma fluoride concentrations and the effect of sevoflurane on the kidneys. Methods: Thirty-five rats were divided into two groups. The control group consisted of 7 rats, and the sevoflurane group consisted of 28 rats. The sevoflurane group was divided equally into 4 subgroups according to the time of sacrifice (S1, S3, S5, S10). All rats in the sevoflurane group were administered 3% sevoflurane for 30 minutes for 5 days. After anesthesia, the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 5th days. The other 7 were kept without anesthesia for 5 days and they were sacrificed at the end of the 10th day. Plasma inorganic fluoride concentrations were measured by ion-selective electrode methods in aspirated heart blood samples. Renal biopsies were taken just after sacrifice and the renal histopathologic effects of sevoflurane were investigated under light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Plasma fluoride concentrations were significantly different between the sevoflurane and control groups. However, there was no statistical difference between the sevoflurane subgroups. Plasma BUN levels did not differ between the control and sevoflurane groups, except on the 10th day. Ultrastructurally, the sevoflurane subgroups (S-3, S-5, S-10) showed significant tubular histopathologic changes compared to the control group. However, these changes showed a significant regression on the 10th day. Conclusion: Repeated sevoflurane administration is a safe procedure since histopathological changes showed significant regression.