Prolonged anaesthesia with isoflurane and halothane. Effects on hepatic function.

Hepatic function was assessed pre-operatively and on the first and sixth postoperative days in 40 healthy patients who underwent prolonged maxillofacial surgery with isoflurane or halothane anaesthesia. No major changes were observed in hepatic enzymes or bilirubin. One-stage prothrombin time and Factor VII concentrations decreased on the first postoperative day and this change was more pronounced in the halothane group. The results support the use of isoflurane rather than halothane for prolonged anaesthesia in respect of the synthesising function of the liver.