Sevoflurane in paediatric anaesthesia: effects on respiration and circulation during induction and recovery

Summary This study examined induction and recovery times and respiratory and cardiovascular changes during induction and recovery in paediatric patients undergoing anaesthesia under spontaneous respiration induced with sevoflurane (S group, n= 10) and halothane (H group, n= 9) at 2.4 MAC. FET/FI increased more rapidly, the incidence of breath holding and coughing was less and the recovery time was shorter in the S group compared with the H group. During induction with sevoflurane at 2.4 MAC, min vol/bodyweight decreased due to reduced tidal vol/bodyweight despite increased respiratory frequency, as with halothane at the same MAC. Slight decrease in blood pressure was observed during induction in the S group, while the circulatory depression was not observed during induction in the H group. These results suggest that sevoflurane is a suitable agent for induction under spontaneous respiration with higher concentrations in paediatric anaesthesia.