Halothane Biotransformation in Obese and Nonobese Patients

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Abstract
Serum levels of inorganic F-, trifluoroacetic acid and Br- were measured at various time intervals following 2 h of halothane anesthesia in 17 morbidly obese and 8 nonobese patients. F-, a marker of reductive halothane metabolism, increased in the obese but not the nonobese patients. This is of concern since reductive halothane metabolism is associated with hepatoxicity in animals. Serum Br- levels were higher after 48 h in the obese patients compared to the nonobese patients (mean 1311 .+-. 114 vs. 787 .+-. 115 .mu.M, P < 0.01). Sedative levels of Br- were not attained in any patient. Peak trifluoracetic acid levels were similar in the 2 patient groups. Sex, age, medication intake and smoking history had no influence on the halothane metabolite levels found in this study.