Effects of halothane anesthesia on patients with abnormal liver function tests

Abstract EN

T h is study done randomly in Basrah General Hospital during the period between Marchs to December 2006, Forty five patients (age range 6 -75 years), (21) 46.8 % males and 24 (53.2 %) females, for evaluating of the safety and laboratory data for halothane anesthesia, all of them presented with mild abnormal liver functions during routine investigations to elective surgeries under general anesthesia (the common use of halothane known to cause hepatotoxicity).

Five milliliters from venous blood were taken before the operation then immediately after the operation, and on the first and third day postoperatively.

Blood was tested for serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin, using appropriate kits.

Twenty Two (48.89 %) had repeated exposure to halothane by underwent previous surgeries, and 23 (51.11 %) are newly exposed to halothane.

No significance change had been observed in relation to the gender of the patients for all parameters.

None of the patients showed severe changes in each type of the parameters when analyzed individually (more than 3 times their upper normal limits).

We conclude that laboratory values immediately after surgical operations and for 3 days later have no trend for a major derangement in the patients with abnormal liver functions.