I653 (difluoromethyl 1-fluoro 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether) is a new inhalation anesthetic with a low blood-gas partition coefficient and no demonstrable toxicity. The authors examined its cardiovascular effects at 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 MAC in eight chronically instrumented domestic swine mechanically ventilated to maintain normocarbia. These data were compared with those obtained while the animals were conscious and while anesthetized with isoflurane at approximately equal MAC multiples. I653 caused dose-related decreases in mean arterial blood pressure (95 +/- 2 mmHg, mean +/- SE, conscious; 65 +/- 3 mmHg, 0.8 MAC; 55 +/- 3 mmHg, 1.2 MAC; and 48 +/- 2 mmHg, 1.6 MAC). At 0.8 MAC, systemic vascular resistance decreased 35% from the conscious condition value. Despite the decreases in blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance, and dose-dependent increases in right- and left-heart filling pressures, stroke volume fell in a dose-related fashion (2.11 +/- 0.10, 1.57 +/- 0.08, 1.37 +/- 0.06, and 1.10 +/- 0.06 ml/kg; conscious, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 MAC). At 0.8 MAC, cardiac output was unchanged (220 +/- 12 ml.min-1.kg-1) from the conscious condition (210 +/- 8 ml.min-1.kg-1), as heart rate increased (142 +/- 7 beats/min, at 0.8 MAC vs. 100 +/- 3 beats/min, conscious) and systemic vascular resistance decreased. At concentrations greater than 0.8 MAC, heart rate decreased towards but did not reach the conscious value (127 +/- 4 at 1.2 MAC, 120 +/- 4 at 1.6 MAC). Systemic vascular resistance increased slightly at 1.6 MAC compared to the values at 0.8 and 1.2 MAC, but was always less than in the conscious condition.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)