Comparison of halothane and enflurane anaesthesia for otolaryngological surgery in children.

Halothane and enflurane were compared in 131 children undergoing adenoidectomy with or without tonsillectomy. Anaesthesia for adenoidectomy was induced with thiopentone or Althesin and for tonsillectomy with thiopentone. The response to surgery was minimal (0-5%) during both inhalation anaesthetics. During immediate recovery, respiratory depression was more profound after enflurane than after halothane. Both the i.v. and the inhalation anaesthetics had an influence on recovery. The total recovery scores (0-10) based on activity, respiration, heart rate, consciousness and colour improved most rapidly after Althesin + enflurane and most slowly after thiopentone + halothane on the adenoidectomy groups. In the tonsillectomy groups, the recovery scores were better after enflurane than after halothane. After both inhalation anaesthetics, the frequency of shivering ranged from 0 to 17%.