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.
Citation
Masters of Medicine (Anaesthesia)Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine