Halothane respiratory effects

The respiratory effects of sevoflurane and halothane have been investigated in 30 infants aged 6-24 months (35). Respiratory depression was greater in the sevoflurane group, with a mean minute ventilation of 4.5... 

Brown K, Ann C, Stocks J, Jackson E, Mackersie A, Hatch D. A comparison of the respiratory effects of sevoflurane and halothane in infants and young children. Anesthesiology 1998 89(l) 86-92. 

In a randomized study of the respiratory effects of high concentrations of halothane and sevoflurane in 21 healthy boys undergoing inguinal or penile surgery, there was similar respiratory depression with each agent (13). Minute ventilation fell by about 50% as a result of a reduction in tidal volume, despite an increase in respiratory rate. 

Steffey E P, Howland D Jr 1980 Comparison of circulatory and respiratory effects of isoflurane and halothane anesthesia in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 41 821-825... 

Respiratory System The respiratory effects of enflurane are similar to those of halothane. Enflurane produces a greater depression of the ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercarbia than do either halothane or isoflurane and, like other inhalational anesthetics, is an effective bronchodilator. 

Ephedra (sea grape, ma-huang, yellow horse) ephedra sinica Relieves colds, improves respiratory function, headaches, diuretic effects 3heart rate, psychosis l hedra should only be used after consulting with the physician. Many restrictions apply and the herb can cause serious reactions. Do not use with cardiac glycosides, monoamine oxidase inhibitor halothane, guanethidine, (MAOIs) or oxytocin. Do not use with 3. John s wort or in weight loss formulas. 

The most common use of NjO is in combination with the more potent volatile anesthetics. It decreases the dosage requirement for the other anesthetics, thus lowering their cardiovascular and respiratory toxicities. For example, an appropriate anesthetic maintenance tension for N2O and halothane would be N2O 40% and halothane 0.5%. With this combination in a healthy patient, anesthesia is adequate for major surgery, and the dose-dependent cardiac effects of halothane are reduced. 

INHALATIONAL- HALOTHANE TERBUTALINE, THEOPHYLLINE Cases of arrhythmias when these bronchodilators are co-administered with halothane Possibly due to sensitization of the myocardium to circulating catecholamines by the volatile anaesthetics to varying degrees Risk of cardiac events is higher with halothane. Desflurane is irritant to the upper respiratory tract, and t secretions can occur and are best avoided in patients with bronchial asthma. Sevoflurane is non-irritant and unlikely to cause serious adverse effects... 

Halothane is not irritant to the respiratory tract. Respiratory depression is a consequence only of high concentrations of halothane. A certain degree of bronch-odilatation is observed, and may explain the fact that a beneficial effect of halothane was described in a 17-year-old woman with acute severe asthma who did not respond to conventional treatment (11). 

Respiratory System As with halothane and enflurane, desflurane causes a concentration-dependent increase in respiratory rate and a decrease in tidal volume. At concentrations <1 MAC, the net effect is to preserve minute ventilation at concentrations >1 MAC, minute ventilation is markedly depressed, resulting in elevated arterial CO tension (Pa -Q ). Patients spontaneously breathing desflurane at concentrations greater than 1.5 MAC have extreme elevations of Pa. and may become apneic. Desflurane is a bronchodUator it also is a strong airway irritant and can cause coughing, breath-holding, laryngospasm, and excessive respiratory secretions. Thus, desflurane is not used for induction of anesthesia. 

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