Halothane concentrations required to block the cardiovascular responses to incision (MAC CVR) in infants and children.

The purpose of this study was to determine the halothane concentration in N2O required to block the cardiovascular responses to skin incision (MAC CVR) in infants and children. We studied 64 unpremedicated ASA 1 infants and children (one month to seven years). In each infant or child, anaesthesia was induced slowly with halothane and N2O, and an endotracheal tube was placed. The MAC CVR was assessed, after a steady state end-tidal halothane concentration had been established for ten minutes, by the "up and down technique" of Dixon. Positive responses were defined as an increase in MAP or HR > 10%. The MAC CVR50 values of halothane with 60% N2O were 1.16 +/- 0.23% at 1-6 mo, 1.17 +/- 0.18% at 7-12 mo, 0.95 +/- 0.26% at 1-3 yr, and 1.12 +/- 0.16% at 4-7 yr. The value at 1-3 years children was less than those in the other age groups (P < 0.05). The changes of MAP were correlated with changes of both HR and pupillary diameter. These results indicate that the values of MAC CVR50 of halothane in infants and children are higher than those required to block motor responses (MAC). The halothane requirement to block cardiovascular responses is lowest in the children aged one to three years.