Changes in cerebral blood flow velocity in children during sevoflurane and halothane anesthesia

The purpose of this study was to evaluate arterial blood pressure and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in children during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane. These measures were compared to findings in a control group anesthetized with halothane. Each child received mask induction of sevoflurane (n = 9) or halothane (n = 9) with 70% nitrous oxide in oxygen. Blood pressure was measured noninvasively by an oscillometric technique using a Dinamap. Blood flow velocity was measured using a transcranial Doppler with a 2-MHz probe. End-tidal CO2, nitrous oxide, and anesthetic concentrations were measured by a Datex Ultima Capnomac, Both sevoflurane (2.4%) and halothane (1.3%) combined with 70% nitrous oxide decreased blood pressure and increased cerebral blood flow velocity, Intubation increased blood pressure and further increased cerebral blood flow velocity with both anesthetic treatments. These results indicate that sevoflurane and halothane combined with nitrous oxide decrease blood pressure and increase cerebral blood flow velocity and suggest that sevoflurane produces cerebrovascular effects similar to those of halothane during anesthetic induction.