Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 12, 405-414, Copyright © 1965 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

A Clinical and Economic Comparison of Halothane and Methoxyflurane Anaesthesia

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, University of Saskatchewan and University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Some Clinical properties of halothane and methoxyflurane have been compared in two series of 50 cases each under controlled conditions,both groups being comparable in all major respects Limited cost-accounting has been done in this study, from which it is concluded that, under the conditions of the experiment,halothane anaesthesia is almost twice as expensive as anaesthesia with methoxy–flurane Following halothane, there #as an increased incidence of post–operative nausea and emesis which required treatment, tending to widen fhe gap in the direct costs of the two agents On tlje other hand, the longer time spent m the recovery room by the patients who had leceived methoxyflurane would work in favour of halothane m any comparison which includes the cost ot nursing care From a clinical point of view the two drugs have been found' to be equally satisfactory as far as the general condition ot the patient and operating conditions are concerned The authors werb unable to corroborate the statement made in the literature that less post-operative sedation is required when fnethoxyfiurane has been the mam anaesthetic agent, nor have they been able to detect any significantly greater muscle relaxant properties of methoxyflurane as compared with halothane.

Note:

Presented at the Western Division Meeting, Canadian Anaesthetists' Society in Winnipeg, March 3–6, 1965