Serum free fatty acid and blood sugar levels in children under halothane, thiopentone and ketamine anaesthesia (comparative study).

Serum free fatty acid and blood glucose levels were determined in 30 children under halothane, thiopentone and ketamine anaesthesia. Blood sugar is increased above baseline values by halothane 54.75 per cent (+++), thiopentone 71.7 per cent (++++) and ketamine 12.2 per cent (+) anaesthesia. Serum free fatty acid was increased during halothane 58.7 per cent (+++) and thiopentone 34.4 per cent (++) anaesthesia, but was decreased with ketamine anaesthesia 13.4 per cent (-). It is assumed that several factors contribute to these changes and are related either to the sympathetic nervous system or basal metabolism and to the specific actions of each drug.