Skip to main content

Sevoflurane and Kids Heart






The main advantage of sevoflurane over halothane is its remarkable cardiovascular safety.

The cardiovascular effects of sevoflurane are similar to those of isoflurane.

It does not sensitize the myocardium to exogenous or endogenous catecholamines, and
thus promotes less arrhythmias than halothane especially during ENT surgery, dental surgery or endoscopies.


Sevoflurane does not modify atrio-ventricular conduction time. Therefore, the incidence of bradycardia is much lower with sevoflurane than with halothane, especially in infants.

Sevoflurane depresses myocardial contractility to a lesser extent than halothane does in infants and children . The latter is of greatest importance during induction especially in children with compromised cardiovascular function.

Sevoflurane, as well as halothane and isoflurane, markedly depresses baroreflex control of heart rate in infants and children .
On recovery, baroreflex control of heart rate is more rapidly restored after sevoflurane anaesthesia than after isoflurane anaesthesia reflecting the more rapid elimination of sevoflurane compared to isoflurane in adult patients .

This very safe cardiovascular profile of sevoflurane has changed the practice of face-mask induction in children. With halothane, a stepwise incremental induction technique was recommended in order to limit the cardiovascular depression, and close monitoring of heart rate and heart sounds was mandatory. Soon after sevoflurane was introduced into clinical practice, it became evident that high concentrations of sevoflurane were well tolerated allowing for rapid induction with very few respiratory and cardiovascular side-effects.

When using 7 or 8% sevoflurane, loss of consciousness is achieved in about 40 to 45 s, and tracheal intubation can be performed without addition of neuromuscular blocking agents in less than 5 min in most patients .

Wodey E, Pladys P, Copin C, Lucas M, Chaumont A, Carre P, Lelong B, Azzis O, Ecoffey C: Comparative hemodynamic depression of sevoflurane versus halothane in infants. Anesthesiology 1997; 87: 795-800

Russell IA, Miller Hance WC, Gregory G, Balea MC, Cassorla L, DeSilva A, Hickey RF, Reynolds LM, Rouine- Rapp K, Hanley FL, Reddy VM, Cahalan MK: The safety and efficacy of sevoflurane anaesthesia in infants and children with congenital heart disease. Anaesthesia Analgesia 2001; 92: 1152-8

Dubois MC, Piat V, Constant I, Lamblin O, Murat I: Comparison of three techniques for induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane in children. Paediatr Anaesth 1999; 9: 19-23

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Things to Avoid in Anesthesia for Pregnant with Pulmonary hypertension

Anesthesia for Pregnant woman with Pulmonary Hypertension is a real challenge for anesthesiologist. It is very crucial to remember the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension in pregnant women and to avoid some practices that will worsen the cardiac status. 1-Avoid single shot spinal anesthesia. Some authorities consider pulmonary hypertension as absolute contraindication for single shot spinal anesthesia specially in patients with NYHA III ,IV. Spinal anesthesia causes major hemodynamic instability(decrease SVR, decrease VR, decrease in CO) The preferred neuroaxial techniques are (epidural anesthesia and CSE with minimal spinal dose) 2-Avoid PAC. Pulmonary Artery catheters insertion may lead to pulmonary artery rupture or thrombosis. TEE is better cardiac monitor/Arteial line is mandatory. 3-Avoid Nitrous oxide in gas mixture.N2O increase the PVR 4-If MV to be started, avoid High TV and PEEP 5-Avoid Oxytocin Boluses, or rapid administration of Pitocin. Oxytocin causes ...

power injectable peripherally inserted central catheters

Clinical experience with power injectable peripherally inserted central catheters in intensive care patients     Introduction In intensive care units (ICU), peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) may be an alternative option to standard central venous catheters, particularly in patients with coagulation disorders or at high risk for infection. Some limits of PICCs (such as low flow rates) may be overcome by the use of power-injectable catheters . Method We have retrospectively reviewed all the power injectable PICCs inserted in adult and pediatric patients in the ICU during a 12-month period, focusing on the rate of complications at insertion and during maintenance. Results We have collected 89 power injectable PICCs (in adults and in children), both multiple and single lumen. All insertions were successful. There were no major complications at insertion and no episodes of catheter-related blood stream infection. Non-infective complications ...

Lumbar and thoracic epidural in Pediatrics-Technical aspect

The midline approach is most commonly used. The ligamentum   flavum is considerably thinner and less dense in infants than in older children and adults. This makes recognition of engagement in the ligament more difficult and requires both extra care and slower, more deliberate passage of the needle to avoid subarachnoid puncture. The angle of approach to the epidural space is slightly more perpendicular to the plane of the back than in older children and adults, owing to the orientation of the spinous   processes in infants and small children. The loss of resistance technique should be used, but only with saline, not air. There are several reports of venous air embolism in infants and children when air was used to test for loss of resistance Use a short (5 cm) 18-gauge Tuohy needle and a 20- or 21-gauge catheter in infants and children. Epidural kits specifically for infants and children are available Maximum of 0.4 mg/kg/hr of bupivacaine after the initial block is estab...