Sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocytes after anaesthesia with halothane or enflurane.

The potential mutagenicity of inhalation anaesthetics was investigated by the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) test system applied to lymphocytes in peripheral blood drawn from patients before and after anaesthesia. Twenty-one women, aged 39-82 years (median 57.7 years) received halothane for 75-180 min (median 125 min). Fourteen other patients, aged 45-90 years (median 67.5 years) received enflurane for 90-180 min (median 130 min). In both groups the numbers of SCEs were unchanged immediately following anaesthesia and 5 days after. It was concluded that, by this method, comprising human cells exposed in vivo, there was no indication of mutagenic effect of short-term exposure to halothane or enflurane in anaesthetic concentrations.