HALOTHANE-PROPOFOL ANESTHESIA FOR TRACHEAL INTUBATION IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

In this double-blind, randomized study, we have investigated 100 healt hy children, aged 3-6 yr. We compared intubating conditions and cardio vascular changes during light halothane anaesthesia and propofol 3 mg kg(-1) with those during deep halothane anaesthesia. Light halothane a naesthesia was defined as an end-tidal concentration of 1%, deep halot hane anaesthesia as 2%. Intubating conditions were graded according to ease of laryngoscopy, vocal cord position and coughing. There were no statistically significant differences in the assessment of intubating conditions between the two groups; 94% of the children in the 1% halo thane-propofol group and 100% of the children in the 2% halothane grou p had acceptable intubating conditions. Systolic arterial pressure dec reased by 13% in the 1% halothane-propofol group compared with 20% in the 2% halothane group (P <0.01).