STUDY OF CUMULATIVE EFFECTS AND RECOVERY FROM ANESTHESIA WITH INTERMITTENT DOSES OF ALTHESIN - COMPARISON WITH METHOHEXITONE

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (4) , 239-248
Abstract
The cumulative effects and post-anesthetic recovery of Althesin were studied by comparing the drug with methohexitone in a series of 60 patients undergoing surgery for varicose veins. Anesthesia was maintained with each anesthetic agent in 30 patients by administration of intermittent doses of the respective drugs in accordance with the surgical stimulus. When repeat doses were required at intervals of 2-5 min, the fall off in requirements was observed with both anesthetics, more distinctly with Althesin than with methohexitone. No significant difference could be observed in the time required for immediate awakening after the 2 drugs. The majority of the patients anesthetized with Althesin displayed a peculiar lack of mental clarity for a short period after recovering consciousness. The recovery from anesthesia was studied by various tests and observations. Recovery after Althesin appeared to proceed slightly faster than after methohexitone. When Althesin was required in high total dosage (exceeding 150 .mu.l/kg), the immediate awakening was associated with emotional upset and confusion. Frequency of nausea and vomiting after anesthesia was considerably higher in the Althesin group than in the methohexitone group. These symptoms might be toxic due to the excessive dosage given. Using the induction time as a basis for calculation of the potency ratio, Althesin and methohexitone were found to have the ratio of 1:33 (expressed in .mu.l/kg:mg/kg).

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