A COMPARISON OF SEVOFLURANE WITH HALOTHANE FOR PEDIATRIC DAY-CASE SURGERY

A phase III, open label, randomized study was conducted in 50 patients comparing halothane and sevoflurane for paediatric day case surgery A graded inhalational induction resulted in only slightly more rapid in duction with sevoflurane (3.34+/-0.92 versus 3.85+/-1.02 minutes; P>0. 05). In children receiving sevoflurane, systolic blood pressure decrea sed to a lesser extent during induction (14.3+/-19.2 versus 26.9+/-10. 9 per cent decrease from resting values; P<0.01) and heart rate was ma intained. Respiratory events (coughing, breath-holding, bronchospasm, laryngospasm) were more common during induction with halothane, rind e xcitement more common in children receiving sevoflurane. Emergence tim es were significantly more rapid in children who had received sevoflur ane (21.4+/-10.9 versus 33.1+/-13.7 minutes; P<0.01). Objective pain/d iscomfort scores were higher in patients receiving sevoflurane at 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes after arrival in the recovery room, and the inci dence of excitement during emergence was higher in this group. It is c oncluded that sevoflurane is well tolerated for inhalational induction and has an improved cardiovascular profile compared to halothane. Eme rgence was significantly more rapid following sevoflurane.