Anesthesiology
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Halothane anesthesia administered to enzyme-induced animals in a hypoxic atmosphere consistently produced hepatic necrosis. Rats pretreated with phenobarbital were exposed to hypoxia at varying intervals after administration of halothane, enflurane, or isoflurane anesthesia. Anesthetics were administered at 1 MAC for 2 h. ⋯ The injury score of the enflurane and isoflurane groups were comparable to that of controls. We conclude that the potential for hypoxia-induced liver injury during recovery exists after halothane anesthesia. Neither enflurane nor isoflurane anesthesia produced significant hepatic injury in this model.