Induction and recovery characteristics of isoflurane and halothane anaesthesia for short outpatient operations in children.

Induction and recovery characteristics of isoflurane anaesthesia were compared with halothane anaesthesia during outpatient myringotomy and placement of Sheely ventilation tubes in 101 unpremedicated children. Compared with halothane, isoflurane resulted in prolonged induction times and inferior induction scores due to increased salivation, coughing, breathholding and laryngospasm. However, when modified by halothane induction, isoflurane anaesthesia decreased induction time and improved induction scores. Induction with thiamylal 4 mg/kg did not improve induction scores significantly. Recovery times from halothane plus isoflurane and pure isoflurane anaesthesia were quicker than pure halothane and thiamylal plus isoflurane, although this was not statistically significant. Compared to halothane, anaesthetic induction using isoflurane is associated with an increased incidence of respiratory problems in unpremedicated children.