Effect of halothane exposure on motor skills & memory in anaesthetists

In a prospective study involving 24 anaesthesia residents, each resident was assessed three times i.e., first as control group, not exposed to anaesthesia at all; the second group in which the resident was exposed to anaesthesia while using controlled respiration with closed circuit without halothane (non-halothane group) and the third group in which they were exposed to anaesthesia using spontaneous respiration with semiclosed circuit using halothane (halothane group). After each exposure of 3-4 h duration in each group, the resident was subjected to specific psychological tests to assess motor skills and memory. In the non-halothane group, a depression of motor skills by 5.51 per cent and of memory by 17.14 per cent was observed