Premium
Barbiturate therapy in cerebral ischaemia
Author(s) -
BELOPAVLOVIC M.,
BUCHTHAL A.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1980.tb05090.x
Subject(s) - medicine , barbiturate , cerebral ischaemia , ischemia , anesthesia , brain function , neuroscience , cardiology , biology
Summary Experimental and clinical studies of the protective effect of barbiturates in cerebral ischaemia are reviewed. Their action in protecting the brain from the effects of ischaemia is related to their action as anaesthetic agents and probably to the depression of neuronal function and metabolism but is incompletely understood. Their effect is dose related. Early administration is likely to be crucial to the success of barbiturate therapy as secondary events following an episode of cerebral ischaemia can lead to irreversible brain damage within 2–3 h. A potential collateral circulation appears to be essential for the protective effect of barbiturates. There may be a possibility of partly overcoming time delays in administration by giving larger doses of barbiturates.