[Comparison of sevoflurane and halothane in pediatric anesthesia]

In the present study we compared sevoflurane (group S) and halothane (group F) as used in pediatric endotracheal anesthesia. The subjects consisted of 100 pediatric patients, each 50 in group S and F, most of whom underwent otorhinolaryngological surgery. Anesthesia was induced with nitrous oxide-oxygen-sevoflurane (GOS) (S 3-5%) or nitrous oxide-oxygen-halothane (GOF) (F 1.5-2.5%), and maintained with GOS (S 2-3%) or GOF (F 1.0-1.5%). In comparing the groups with respect to anesthetic induction, group S required 2.1 min for the loss of consciousness, 6.1 min for ocular fixation and 9.7 min for completion of intubation, while in group F the time intervals for the above items were 2.4, 4.9 and 10.2 min, respectively. No significant differences were found between the two groups except in the loss of consciousness and ocular fixation. Comparison of the groups during maintenance of anesthesia revealed no significant differences, although pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure increased in both groups. When the groups were compared for awakening from anesthesia, group S required 10.1 min for awakening and 11.9 min for extubation, while in group F the time was 13.0 min and 15.4 min, respectively. These values were significantly different. The present study demonstrated that sevoflurane anesthesia is rapid in both induction and awakening as compared with halothane anesthesia, and that GOS inhalation anesthesia with single use of sevoflurane can be usefully applied to pediatric endotracheal anesthesia.