Korean J Anesthesiol.  1983 Jun;16(2):99-106.

The Changes due to Enflurane and Balanced Anesthesia on Liver Function in Elective Operations

• Lau YS
• Shin JS

Abstract

The controversy over the hepatotoxic effect of the halogenated anesthetic agents, particullary halothane, is still not resolved despite many years of continued study. Enflurane(synthesized by R. Terrell in 1963) reduces the potential for hepatotoxic effects as compared to some fluorinated agents because of a relatively low level of biotransfomation, but liver injury following enflurane anesthesia has been reported, and was attributed to hepatotoxic agents, upper abdominal surgery, blood transfusion, shock, hyperpyrexia and sepsis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of enflurane on liver function by comparing the preoperative and the 48 hour postoperative liver function tests in 25 cases of enflurane and also in 20 cases of balanced anesthesia. Other factors considered were the influences of the duration of anesthesia, the type of surgery, and the use of blood transfusion. The results were as follows: 1) SGOP and SGPT levels were significantly increased in enflurane group; but SGOT were increased above the normal range, on the other hand SGPT were remained within normal limits. 2) SGOT and SGPT levels were increased significantly in the balanced anesthetic group: but SGOT were increased above the normal range, on the other hand SGPT were remained within normal limits. 3) SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly increased following prolonged anesthesia of 3 hours. 4) SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly increased after gastric surgery. 5) SGOT and SGPT levels were significantly increased after blood transfusion. 6) But the other values of the liver function test, such as alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and total protein were not significantly increased and remained within normal limits. Although minute changes in liver function were occured following enflurane anesthesia, it is suggested that the changes in liver function were more influenced by the duration of anesthesia, the type of surgery and the administration of blood rather than the kinds of anesthetic agents.

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Anesthesia
Anesthetics
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Balanced Anesthesia*
Bilirubin
Blood Transfusion
Enflurane*
Halothane
Hand
Liver Function Tests
Liver*
Reference Values
Sepsis
Shock
Alanine Transaminase
Alkaline Phosphatase
Anesthetics
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Bilirubin
Enflurane
Halothane