[Clinical evaluation of the new anesthetic "Ethrane"]

Seventy-four patients aged 14 months to 71 years, classified as ASA I and II were anesthetised with Ethrane for surgical interventions of mean duration 117 minutes. With the exception of 5 patients who were directly anesthetised with Ethrane, the others received Ethrane after induction with Penthiobarbitone. Maintenance of anesthesia was ensured with 1 to 4p. 100 concentrations of Ethrane and 33p. 100 oxygen and 66p. 100 nitrous oxide. Tracheal intubation was facilitated by injection of 1 mg/kg of succinylcholine. Induction with enflurane is rapid with no phenomena of excitation or irritation of the ear passages. The cardiovascular apparatus is stable with no arrythmia but an increase in heart rate of 11 to 50p. 100 is noted and in 41p. 100 of the cases hypotension of 35p. 100 of the intitial value. During spontaneous ventilation, a type of rapid and superficial respiration is observed with a flow volume of 5.3 ml/kg for an average frequency of 25/min. The arterial blood gases show slight hypercapnia. Myorelaxation is significant and better than that obtained with halothane. Coming round poses few problems apart from agitation in adolescents. Response to simple orders appears at 13 minutes. Trembling and rigidity occur in 41p. 100 of the cases for 5 to 30 minutes. From the hepatic point of view, no lastin enzyme changes were noted and no renal toxicity was demonstrated. Ethrane appears to be a good anesthetic agent but the few advantages mentioned means that it does not fulfil ideal conditions.