Electroencephalographic abnormalities following halothane anesthesia.

In 7 subjects, serial EEGs, serum bromide determinations, and psychological tests were done prior to and following 13.83 +/- 0.74 (SEM) MAC-hours of halothane anesthesia. Significant psychological impairment demonstrated 2 days following anesthesia in these subjects was absent 2 weeks following exposure to halothane. Nonspecific postanesthetic slowing of the EEG was found, qualitatively similar to but more marked than that following exposure to enflurane. Generalized EEG slowing, with a tendency toward posterior delta activity and significant reduction of frequency and amplitude of the alpha rhythm, persisted for 6 to 8 days following anesthesia. Rare sharp-wave activity developed in 3 subjects in the 1st week after halothane. A potentially psychoactive postanesthetic serum bromide level of 2.97 +/- 0.17 mEq/L (SEM) was found 5 days following anesthesia. Electroencephalographic changes characteristic of mild bromide intoxication were absent, suggesting that the psychological impairment noted after halothane anesthesia is probably not due to this metabolite; these psychological changes are probably due instead to persistence in the circulation of unchanged halothane.