SEVOFLURAN E VERSUS HALOTHANE FOR GENERAL ANESTHESIA IN P EDIATRIC PATIENTS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INDUCTION TIME, INTUBATION TIME AND EMERGENCE TIME

AIM: This study was conducted to compare the speed of induction, intubation, and speed of emergence with sevoflurane and halothane in pediatric patients. METHODOLOGY: All the patients had full preanesthetic check-up and the routine investigation (complete blood count, urine albumin) was done. Patients were kept fasting for 6 hrs. for solid food, 4hours for semisolid and 2 hours for liquid. They were randomly divided into Gr S and Gr H each comprising of 30 patients each to receive sevoflurane and halothane with 60% nitrous and 40% oxygen respectively by inhalation. On arrival in the operation theatre, the standard monitors were applied including an electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter, non-invasive blood pressure and precordial stethoscope and the baseline readings of respective parameters were taken. Anesthetic induction was done with face mask application using incremental dosing of 0.5% for halothane and 1% for sevoflurane every three to five breath to deliver maximum inspired concentration of upto 5% halothane(maximum inspired concentration) or 8% sevoflurane (maximum inspired concentration). Spontaneous ventilation was maintained till loss of eye lash reflex. Following the loss of the eyelash reflex, the vaporizer concentration was decreased to 4% for sevoflurane and 0.86 % for halothane (approximately 2 MAC). Intravenous catheter was inserted. Inhalational agent at the same concentration was given until the loss of corneal reflex. After the intravenous line was secured, inj pentazocine 0.3 mg/kg was given. The patients were intubated with appropriate size endotracheal tube only after the loss of corneal reflex. After successful intubation, intravenous vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg was administered for muscle paralysis and the anesthetic concentrations was adjusted at 1.3 MAC with N2O (0.56% halothane and 2.6% sevoflurane). Time intervals measured: (induction time, intubation time, emergence time) were measured. Vitals recorded: Heart rate, systolic, diastolic blood pressures, and SpO2. The depth of anesthesia was assessed clinically by evaluation of changes in heart rate, and blood pressure during surgery and these were maintained within 20% of baseline values. RESULTS: Induction time was significantly shorter with Gr S(mean(SD) 136.0(19.343)secs) than with Gr H (mean (SD) 156.09(10.651)) secs) (P=0.0001). Intubation time was significantly shorter with Gr S (mean (SD) 242.400(9.940) secs) than with Gr H(mean(SD) 265.769(12.039) secs) (P