COMPARISON BETWEEN HALOTHANE AND SEVOFLURANE FOR ADULT VITAL CAPACITYINDUCTION

We have examined the differences in ventilatory characteristics betwee n halothane and sevoflurane when used for adult vital capacity inducti on of anaesthesia. The study was conducted in a randomized, double-bli nd manner. After 13 patients had been enrolled, the study was curtaile d because the blinded observer thought that there was an unacceptably high incidence of adverse events. After the randomization code was rev ealed, the adverse events were found to be in the halothane group. Alt hough the sample size was small, minute volumes appeared to be maintai ned in the sevoflurane group. Ventilatory frequencies were similar in the two groups after insertion of the laryngeal mask airway, but tidal volumes were significantly greater in the sevoflurane group (P=0.0013 ).