Sevoflurane versus halothane for the incidence and type of arrhythmia during anaesthesia for adenotonsillectomy in children

ABSTRACT

This study was carried on 60 patients scheduled for adenotonsillectomy to compare the incidence and type of arrhythmia during sevoflurane or halothane anesthesia. All patients were premedicated with atropine 0.01-0.02 mg/kg im 30 minutes before induction of anesthesia, then received inhalation induction using nitrous oxide 50% in oxygen supplemented with either sevoflurane or halothane. Time to loss of eyelash reflex was more rapid with sevoflurane than halothane, although time to adequate anesthesia to allow the insertion of endotracheal tube was slower in sevoflurane group. The incidence of cardiac arrhythmia was higher during halothane [40%] than during sevoflurane anesthesia [20%] and the arrhythmia was more often ventricular in origin in the two groups