MORBIDITY IN MINOR GYNAECOLOGICAL SURGERY: A COMPARISON OF HALOTHANE, ENFLURANE AND ISOFLURANE

A comparison was made between halothane, enflurane and isofluranewith regard to their suitability for minor gynaecological proceduresin patients who would be leaving the hospital within 24 h ofthe anaesthetic. Seventy-five healthy patients were randomlyallotted to one of three groups which received one of theteanaesthetics. In respect of patient acceptance and postoperativemorbidity there were no significant differences between halothaneand enflurane, but after isoflurane there was a significantlygreater frequency of minor sequelae (headache, nausea, dizzinessand coughing) and its pungent odour made it unacceptable tosome patients.