title: A comparison of halothane and isoflurane for gaseous induction of anaesthesia in infants.
abstract: Sixty-four ASA 1 and 2 infants between the ages of 44 weeks postconceptual age and one year presenting for routine, elective surgery were randomly anaesthetized with either 3% halothane in oxygen (Group H) or 5% isoflurane in oxygen (Group I). Patients in Group I took a mean (SD) time of 70.1(13.6) s to loss of eyelash reflex and 80.0 (13.5) s to tolerating the face mask, compared with 80.2 (17.7) s and 93.4 (20.5) s in Group H (P=0.028 and 0.0072, respectively). There were no significant differences between the groups for preinduction or induction state, lowest oxygen saturation, or the incidence of airway related complications or interventions. This study demonstrates that 5% isoflurane in oxygen induces anaesthesia in infants more quickly than 3% halothane in oxygen, without any increase in the incidence or severity of airway-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Bagshaw
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Stack
mesh_terms: D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001767:Blinking / Q000187:drug effects; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007826:Laryngismus / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane; D010100:Oxygen; D006221:Halothane