EFFECT OF HUMIDIFICATION ON INHALATION INDUCTION WITH ISOFLURANE IN CHILDREN

A well practised technique is important in achieving quiet induction o f anaesthesia in children, but the volatile agent used also influences the process. Isoflurane results in more airway problems than halothan e but recent studies have described several ways of improving the acce ptability of isoflurane for inhalation induction of anaesthesia. We ha ve studied the effect of humidification of inspired gases on respirato ry complications and hypoxic episodes during induction. Forty-one chil dren undergoing inhalation induction of anaesthesia with isoflurane an d nitrous oxide in oxygen were allocated randomly to receive either hu midified or nonhumidified gas. Humidification did not result in a less er incidence of problems. These findings are contrary to the results i n a similar study in a predominantly adult sample which demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of complications using humidified gases .