Comparative study in pediatric inhalation anesthesia. Clinical characteristics and anesthetic complications with halothane and isoflurane

García-Sánchez, M.J.; Polo, A.; Peran, F.; Galdo, J.R.; López-García, J.C.; Plaza, C.; Almazán, A.

Revista Espanola de Anestesiologia y Reanimacion 39(5): 285-288

1992


ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9356
PMID: 1410748
Document Number: 392803
Comparative study of clinical characteristics and complications during induction, maintenance, and recovery in pediatric inhalational anesthesia between two commonly used fluoride agents (halothane and isoflurane). We studied 66 children aged 1 month to 13 years undergoing general anesthesia for short lasting surgery who were divided into two groups of 33 patients each one: Isoflurane group and halothane group. Induction and maintenance anesthesia was performed with the corresponding inhalant agent. Parameters measured were duration of unconsciousness, time elapsed for intubation and recovery, heart rate, arterial blood pressure, and incidence of complications. Children anesthetized with isoflurane showed a shorter period of unconsciousness (1.55 +/- 0.11 min) than those anesthetized with halothane (1.91 +/- 0.12 min); whereas that the time required for intubation was significantly more prolonged (8.94 +/- 0.51 and 6.57 +/- 0.32 min, respectively). The incidence of complications was higher in the isoflurane group, mainly expressed as laryngeal spasm during the induction period. Both groups of patients showed a similar hemodynamic behaviour, although diastolic arterial pressure during maintenance anesthesia was significantly lower with isoflurane. Anesthesia recovery was faster and more predictable with isoflurane than with halothane. Anesthetic agent isoflurane is less appropriate than halothane for induction in pediatric anesthesia due to a high incidence of complications, specially laryngeal spasm.

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