Reduced Anesthetization during the Intracarotid Amobarbital (Wada) Test in Patients Taking Carbonic Anhydrase–Inhibiting Medications

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Abstract
Failure to show adequate anesthetization during the intracarotid amobarbital procedure (IAP or "Wada test") is a rare complication. After an unusually high rate of recent anesthetization failures, we sought to determine the frequency of reduced anesthetization and any common factors underlying these failures.We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent IAP tests through the UCLA Seizure Disorder Center between September 1999 and May 2002. Age, date, epileptogenic focus, radiologist, and current medications were all considered.Of a total of 56 patients who underwent our intracarotid amobarbital examination, 11 (19.6%) showed either very rapid recovery (/=8 weeks after discontinuation of such medications.