Halothane Jaundice and Hepatotoxicity

SINCE its introduction in 1956 as a general anesthetic agent, halothane (2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane) has enjoyed worldwide acceptance as a relatively safe and useful inhalational anesthetic. Its universal use notwithstanding, the question of its potential hepatotoxicity has not been definitely established. In animals, Stephen and associates 1 have found that exposure to halothane can cause hepatic necrosis not unlike that seen after chloroform poisoning. Among numerous liver function studies performed in man after halothane (Fluothane) anesthesia, a transient increase in sulfobromophthalein (Bromsulphalein) dye retention for about 10 days has been demonstrated. 2 The hepatocellular damage reported after halothane anesthesia in the early clinical reports 3-5 was believed to be coincidental. In several more recent reports, 6-11 however, a possible causal relationship has been suggested. Report of Cases Case 1.— A 68-yr-old housewife was admitted to Montgomery Hospital on April 25, 1962, for removal of a tumor of the right breast. Her past