CHANGES IN CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITY IN CHILDREN DURING SEVOFLURANE AND HALOTHANE ANESTHESIA

The purpose of this study was to evaluate arterial blood pressure and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in children during inductio n of anesthesia with sevoflurane. These measures were compared to find ings in a control group anesthetized with halothane. Each child receiv ed mask induction of sevoflurane (n = 9) or halothane (n = 9) with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Blood pressure was measured noninvasively by an oscillometric technique using a Dinamap. Blood flow velocity was m easured using a transcranial Doppler with a 2-MHz probe. End-tidal CO2 , nitrous oxide, and anesthetic concentrations were measured by a Date x Ultima Capnomac, Both sevoflurane (2.4%) and halothane (1.3%) combin ed with 70% nitrous oxide decreased blood pressure and increased cereb ral blood flow velocity, Intubation increased blood pressure and furth er increased cerebral blood flow velocity with both anesthetic treatme nts. These results indicate that sevoflurane and halothane combined wi th nitrous oxide decrease blood pressure and increase cerebral blood f low velocity and suggest that sevoflurane produces cerebrovascular eff ects similar to those of halothane during anesthetic induction.