THE EFFECT OF HALOTHANE ON NEONATAL CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY

The effect of a commonly used anaesthetic agent, halothane, on neonata l cilial function was,determined. A nasal cilial sample was taken from 13 healthy, term, newborn infants. For 1 h, half of each sample was e xposed to halothane and half to air. Cilial function was assessed by m easuring beat frequency with a modified light transmission method. Cil ial beat frequency was significantly slower in the cilia exposed to ha lothane, 9(s.d. 2.5)Hz, than to air, 12.9(s.d. 1.5)Hz. Decreased mucoc iliary clearance following halothane anaesthesia is due, at least in p art, to a directly depressant effect of halothane on ciliated cells.