A comparative clinical study of enflurane and halothane

Abstract

A perspective study was carried out on a total of forty healthy adult patients (ASA Grade I - II) who were randomly allocated to one of two groups. The groups were identical in age and sex distribution; as well as the type of surgical procedure. One group received halothane (1-2%) in nitrous oxide - oxygen mixture (4 and 2 L/min respectively) and the other group received enflurane (0.8-2%) in nitrous oxide - oxygen mixture (4 and 2 L/min respectively). All the patients were allowed to breathe spontaneously. A statistical analysis was carried out on the following observations: blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, hepatic functions, tidal and minute volumes and recovery time. As compared to the initial (control) values, the halothane group showed a statistically significant increase in the heart and respiratory rates, arterial carbon dioxide tension and hepatic enzymatic levels. There was also a significant fall in the pH, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. There was a slight decrease in the tidal volume - not statistically significant. The minute volume remained fairly stable. The enflurane group showed a statistically significant fall in the pH and the systolic blood pressure. The hepatic enzymatic levels were also elevated significantly. The diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, tidal and minute volumes and the arterial carbon dioxide tension remained fairly stable. As compared to enflurane, patients in the halothane group had a statistically significant rise in the heart and respiratory

rates and arterial carbon dioxide tension. The rec~very time was prolonged in this group of patients. Patients in the enflurane group also showed stability of most of the cardio-respiratory parameters monitored and they seemed to have a - rapid, pleasant recovery. Both agents were free of hepatotoxicity. The overall impression was that enflurane seemed to be a better agent than halothane.