Rukhsana Samad, Mansab Amin Chaudry.
Anaesthetic management of foreign body tracheobronchial tree with Sevoflurane: a double blind comparison with halothane.
J Surg Pak Jan ;11(3):93-6.

Objective: To compare the effects of sevoflurane with halothane as induction agents for rigid bronchoscopy in pediatric patients with suspected foreign body inhalation. The variables compared were rapid induction of sleep, smooth maintenance of haemodynamic stability and at the end awakening of patients faster with full physiologic and psychomotor recovery. Design: A randomize, double blind comparative study Place and Duration of study: The study was conducted in Khyber Teaching Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Kohat over a period of two years from 1st January 2000 to December 2001. Patients and Methods: Ninety six patients of less than ten years of age were included in the study, who underwent rigid bronchoscopy for suspected foreign body inhalation. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. At the start of the induction the non-blinded anaesthetist turns the sevoflurane or the halothane vaporizer on. The vaporizers were hidden from view of the blinded observer. The observer recorded time to loss of eye lash reflex. The incidence of coughing, straining and aponea were noted in each group. Mean arterial pressure, heart rate and haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded at one minute interval, during induction. Airway complications such as laryngospasm, were noted in each group. Results: Two groups of 48 each were made. The observer was blinded as to anaesthetic agent used. There were 70 males and 26 female patients with the age range of 2 months to 10 years. Weight varies between 5kg to 30 kg. No difference found in two groups with regards to gender, age and weight. The time to loss of eye lash reflex was 45 second (mean) in sevoflurane group and 120 seconds in halothane group. Coughing occurred in one (2%) patient on sevoflurane and 4 (8%) patients in halothane group, while incidence of apnoea was 6.2% and 14.5% respectively. Mean arterial pressure recorded immediately before induction of anaesthesia did not differ in the two groups. There was no difference in haemoglobin oxygen saturation between the two groups at any time. Conclusion: Sevoflurane is superior inhalational anaesthetic agent than halothane in respect of induction, maintenance and recovery in children for bronchoscopy.

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