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Initial experience of complete switchover to sevoflurane in 1550 children *
Author(s) -
MUTO R.,
MIYASAKA K.,
TAKATA M.,
KONDO Y.,
ASAHARA S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pediatric anesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.704
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1460-9592
pISSN - 1155-5645
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9592.1993.tb00071.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , fresh gas flow , inhalation , sevoflurane , halothane , nitrous oxide , general anaesthesia , ventilation (architecture) , venipuncture , surgery , mechanical engineering , engineering
Summary A report of our experience with a complete switchover from halothane (HAL) to sevoflurane (SF) in 1550 paediatric cases over a period of 17 months is presented. SF became the sole inhalational anaesthetic in our institution in July 1990. Induction of anaesthesia with SF was performed with the overpressure technique by administering rapid increases of concentration and assisted pulmonary ventilation with a large fresh gas flow (6 l·min −1 of nitrous oxide and 3 l·min −1 of oxygen). SF concentration was increased rapidly up to 5 or 7% in increments of 2% in every 2–3 breaths. Induction time as measured in 60 cases (3–6 years) was 50 ± 5 (mean ± SD) sec for loss of eyelash reflex and 119 ± 10 (mean ± SD) sec for loss of movement to venepuncture at 7% SF concentration. No serious complications were observed. Peak serum levels of inorganic fluoride were within a safe range (less than 30 μmol·l −1 ) in all 7 cases in which this was studied. The results suggest that SF is a useful anaesthetic agent in paediatric anaesthesia, particularly because of its smooth and rapid inhalation induction.