Cardiorespiratory effects of outpatient anesthesia for oral surgery: trichloroethylene-halothane.

The cardiorespiratory effects of trichloroethylene supplementation of nitrous oxide-oxygen anesthesia, with simultaneous use of halothane at induction as needed, were studied in outpatient oral surgery patients undergoing dental extractions under general anesthesia. The technique produced no deleterious cardiovascular effects that could be attributed to the combined use of these agents. Elevations of blood pressure, stroke volume, and peripheral resistance indicated light anesthesia. The versatility of halothane combined with the absence of nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic breakdown products of trichloroethylene provides a satisfactory technique for outpatient oral surgery. The agents appear pharmacologically complimentary in that halothane lacks analgesic properties and postoperative shivering occurs, while induction with trichloroethylene is slow and tachypnea is a problem.