Retinal fine structure after long term anaesthesia

Abstract

Long-term anaesthesia (5–6 hr) involving a halothane/nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture in rabbits is shown to be accompanied by degenerative changes which are most marked in the visual cells and pigment epithelium. These changes included extensive vacuolation and rounding up of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the pigment epithelium, while distortion of the Golgi apparatus, nuclear pyknosis and outer segment disruption occurred in the visual cells. The causes of these pathological changes are speculative, but may be the result of hypotension, reduction in oxygen consumption, hypoxia or a direct toxic effect of the anaesthetic.