THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS PENTOTHAL SODIUM WITH OR WITHOUT INHALATION OF OXYGEN ON LIVER FUNCTION

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Abstract
Pentothal Na in 1% soln. was given intraven. to 2 small groups of dogs twice daily for 2 wks. The total dose with each admn. was 20 mg./kg. of body wt. During anesthesia one group breathed air, the other 100% 02. Daily prothrombin time and serum bilirubin detns. were done on each dog to follow changes in liver function. Both groups showed a mild depression of prothrombin times and a slight increase in serum bilirubin levels with a gradual return to normal after pentothal was discontinued. The variation between the 2 groups breathing air and O2 respectively was statistically insignificant. It seems that pentothal in the above dosage has some toxic effect on the liver, and that O2 inhalation does not modify this effect.