A comparison of the effects of prolonged (>10 hour) low-flow sevoflurane, high-flow sevoflurane, and low-flow isoflurane anaesthesia on hepatorenal function in orthopaedic patients.

This study compared the effects of low-flow sevoflurane, high-flow sevoflurane and low-flow isoflurane on hepatorenal function during and after more than 10 hours of anaesthesia. Twenty-five patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery were categorized into three groups; low-flow sevoflurane (fresh gas flow at 1 litre/min, n = 9), high-flow sevoflurane (5 l/rmin, n = 7), or low-flow isoflurane (1 l/min, n=9). Inspiratory compoundA concentrations were measured. The groups had similar duration of anaesthesia and exposure to anaesthetic agents. The area under the curve of concentration (mean, SD) of compound A in the low-flow sevoflurane group (359.8, 106.1 ppm.h) was greater than that in the high-flow sevoflurane group (61.1, 29.3 ppm.h; P<0.01). All groups showed normal plasma creatinine and creatinine clearance, and transient postoperative increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase and alpha glutathione-S-transferase, as well as urinary glucose and alpha glutathione-S-transferase, with no significant differences between groups. There were no significant relationships between the area under the curve of concentration of compound A and the biomarkers. These findings suggest that prolonged anaesthesia with low-flow sevoflurane has similar effects on hepatorenal function to prolonged anaesthesia with high-flow sevoflurane and low-flow isoflurane.