Introduction:  Inhalational anaesthesia used in both adults as well as in paediatric population but now a days it has gained a special attention in paediatric population for induction purpose because of easy to administer and difficulty in cannulation in awake children. The present study was designed to compare induction and recovery characteristics of sevoflurane with halothane in paediatric patients, and to assess the hemodynamic profile during induction, maintenance and recovery phases of anaesthesia.

Material and Methods: AHospital based RandomizedComparative Observational study was conducted on 60 patients of 1–8 year age, either sex or ASA grade I, II posted for elective surgeries like hernia, hydrocele and undescended testis. Children were randomly allocatedinto two groups receiving either sevoflurane or halothane in a mixture of O2 and N2O (50:50) after priming the circuit and in incremental mannerfor mask induction and maintenance of anesthesia. Induction time, intubation time, emergence time and haemodynamic changes were recorded. At the end of surgery post operative complications were noted and compared between two groups.

Results: Induction of anaesthesia was smooth and without any complications in both the group, but induction time and intubation time was significantly shorter in sevoflurane group. There was fall in heart rate in both the groups during induction, but significant fall in halothane group. Maintenance of anaesthesia was satisfactory in both the groups. Recovery from anaesthesia was significantly rapid with sevoflurane group than halothane group. None of the patients had any side effect.

Conclusion: We conclude that sevoflurane was superior to halothane for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in paediatric patients. Recovery time was also significantly shorter in sevoflurane group.