Halothane can cause lethal hepatitis in patients who undergo general anesthesia. Thus, the most effective means of protecting patients is to avoid exposure.

What is halothane hepatitis?

Type II hepatotoxicity (also called halothane hepatitis) is associated with massive centrilobular liver necrosis that leads to fulminant liver failure; the fatality rate is 50%. Clinically, it is characterized clinically by fever, jaundice, and grossly elevated serum transaminase levels.

What Anaesthesia causes hepatitis?

Sevofurane is one of the most commonly used volatile anesthetic agents, particularly for outpatient anesthesia and has an excellent safety record. Sevoflurane has been implicated in rare single case reports of severe acute liver injury similar to halothane hepatitis.