Metabolic Breakdown of Thiopental in Man Determined by Gas Chromatographic Analysis of Serum Barbiturate Levels

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Abstract
Gas chromatographic analysis of serum pentobarbital and thiopental levels 15 minutes following the intravenous administration of thiopental under clinical conditions revealed levels of pentobarbital which were not significantly different from those levels ascribable to the extraction process employed. It is concluded that immediately after thiopental administration in man, at a time when central nervous system depression is maximal, pentobarbital resulting from desulfuration of thiopental does not contribute to the central nervous system depression. It is further concluded that extraction processes, including those employing chloroform, may result in desulfuration of thiopental and so lead to spurious results.

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