| Title: | Hypotensive anaesthesia for microsurgery of the middle ear. A comparison between isoflurane and halothane |
| Author(s): | Fairbairn, M. L.Eltringham, R. J.Young, P. N.Robinson, J. M. |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0003-2409 (Print). 0003-2409 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | Fifty patients undergoing microsurgery of the ear were anaesthetised using thiopentone, nitrous oxide, oxygen and either halothane or isoflurane, via a low flow circle system with carbon dioxide absorption. Systolic blood pressure was reduced to approximately 70 mmHg by the additional use of increments of labetalol; the patients breathed spontaneously. The degree of haemostasis was assessed by the surgeon who was unaware which volatile agent was being used to supplement anaesthesia. Isoflurane, although it is a potent vasodilator produced operating conditions which were indistinguishable from halothane. Isoflurane is thus a safe and reliable alternative to halothane as a volatile agent used to supplement anaesthesia when using induced hypotension for middle ear surgery. |
