Comparative Study of Sevoflurane with Halothane for Anesthesia

Abstract

The new inhalation anesthetic agent sevoflurane introduced recently in the clinical practice, having lower blood gas solubility allow for rapid induction, has less myocardial depressant effects may make it a suitable agent for induction as well as maintenance of anaesthesia. Hence, the present study was undertaken to compare the induction, intubation, haemodynamic and emergence characteristics of sevoflurane and halothane. This comparative clinical study was carried out at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Karad after obtaining ethical committee clearance. The study population
consisted of 80 healthy patients of both sex divided randomly into two groups of 40 each. Group I - Consisted of patients induced and intubated with incremental concentration of halothane 0.5% to 5% in nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture (50:50); and Group II - Consisted of patients induced and intubated with incremental concentration of sevoflurane 1% to 7% in nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture (50:50).From the present study it is seen that, Halothane in the concentration of 0.5-5% produces induction in 137.8 secs (SD 33.3secs) and sevoflurane in the concentration of 1-7% produces induction in 70.95 secs (SD 14.6secs). Thus sevoflurane produces significantly rapid induction compared to halothane (p<0.05).