Increased hepatic microsomal activity after halothane anaesthesia in children |
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| Authors: | OLGA ST HAXHOLDT S LOFT ANETTE CLEMMENSEN ELSE HJORTSØ |
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| Institution: | Olga St. Haxholdt, MD, Senior Registrar, Department of Anaesthesia, S. Loft, MD, Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Anette Clemmensen, Chief Nurse, ENT Department and Else Hjortsø, MD, Junior Registrar, Department of Anaesthesia, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. |
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| Abstract: | The effect of anaesthesia and surgery on microsomal enzyme activity was studied in 19 children aged 4-9 years, scheduled for tonsillectomy. The children were randomly allocated to either halothane or ketamine anaesthesia. Antipyrine clearance was measured before and 4 days after surgery by a salivary one-sample technique. Statistically significant (p less than 0.001) increases in antipyrine clearance was found in children who received halothane anaesthesia. The antipyrine clearance was increased by a mean of 26% 4 days after surgery, compared with a pre-operative control measurement. No significant change in antipyrine clearance was observed in children who received ketamine anaesthesia. There was also a significant difference in antipyrine clearance changes after surgery between the two groups (p less than 0.05). Halothane has enzyme-inducing properties after a single exposure in children, while a single dose of ketamine does not. |
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| Keywords: | Anaesthetics volatile halothane Induction enzymes |
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