Serum glutathione S-transferase alpha as a measure of hepatocellular function following prolonged anaesthesia with sevoflurane and halothane in paediatric patients

We studied the effects of prolonged anaesthesia (4.3-7.7 h) with sevofluran e and halothane on hepatic function in 14 paediatric patients. Hepatic func tion was assessed using serum concentrations of liver-specific glutathione S-transferase alpha (GSTA) before and 0, 3 and 15 h after the end of anaest hesia. A transient significant increase in GSTA over baseline was observed in the sevoflurane group, but not in the halothane group, and the differenc e between the groups was not significant. These data suggest that, although statistically insignificant, the use of sevoflurane for prolonged anaesthe sia in paediatric patients is more likely than halothane to be involved in damage to hepatic function.