Tehran University Medical Journal

---

The induction characteristic of halothane in nitrous oxide and oxygen were compared with halothane in oxygen alone and intravenous induction with thiopentum and succinylcholine.
Materials and Methods: A vital capacity technique was used for the gaseous induction groups using a mapleson F system and a 1-litre reservoir bag. four end points of anesthesia were recorded: time to cessation of hand grip, time to loss of eyelash reflex, time to jaw relaxation, and time to settled breathing after tracheal tube insertion .we also recorded sequential blood pressure and pulse rate , the incidence of adverse airway events and the acceptability of the induction technique .
Results: Induction with thiopentum and succinylcholine had a faster time to cessation of hand grip (p, 0.05) and jaw relaxation (p, 0.01). These differences disappeared with the final induction stage and halothane in nitrous oxide and oxygen had the faster time to regular settled breathing though this did not reach statistical significance. Cardiac stability was good and comparable in all groups.
Conclusion: These were few adverse airway events in any group and none caused oxygen saturation to fall below 96%. There was more excitation in the gaseous induction groups.

---

Background: Acute hepatitis is upon serious complications of halothane usage, can be associated with 50% mortality in severe cases. Use of halothane as inhalational anesthetic or use of it for maintenance of anesthesia is restricted/ prohibited in USA and most European countries. The occurrence of icterus and elevated liver enzymes after halothane anesthesia may be due to the drug induced hepatitis.

Case report: we report a 28 year old woman with acute hepatitis after cesarean section under halothane anesthesia, fortunately discharged to home 40 days after that. Other causes of hepatitis became role out in the patient.

Results: The usage of halothane should be restricted/ prohibited in our country because of its potentially serious and fatal complications and so existence of more safe but expensive alternatives.