LARYNGEAL MASK INSERTION FOLLOWING INHALATIONAL INDUCTION IN CHILDREN- A COMPARISON BETWEEN HALOTHANE AND SEVOFLURANE

The aim of this study was to compare laryngeal mask insertion conditio ns following inhalational induction with either halothane or sevoflura ne. Fifty-eight healthy children scheduled for dental extraction were randomly assigned to receive nitrous oxide 66% in oxygen and 3.0 MAC o f either halothane or sevoflurane introduced in a stepwise fashion, Th e laryngeal masks were inserted when an adequate depth of anaesthesia was attained and the reactions and time to insertion noted. Inhalation al induction was smooth in both halothane and sevoflurane groups. Indu ction time and time to laryngeal mask insertion were significantly fas ter with sevoflurane. The conditions for laryngeal mask insertion were generally good with 86.2% and 89.2% in the halothane and sevoflurane groups respectively having had no reactions to insertion, The complica tions to laryngeal mask insertion encountered were mild. The emergence time from the anaesthetic was found to be shorter for sevoflurane but the difference was not statistically significant.