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Routine Induction of Anaesthesia with Thiopental and Suxamethonium: Apnoea without Ventilation?
Author(s) -
Gabrielsen J.,
Valentin N.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1982.tb01727.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , intubation , ventilation (architecture) , thiopental sodium , tracheal intubation , general anaesthesia , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , propofol , resuscitation , mechanical engineering , engineering
Changes in PaO 2 and PaCO 2 during the induction of anaesthesia with thiopental, suxamethonium, and intubation were investigated in 20 patients who received preoxygenation for 2 min, but no ventilation before intubation. Both in fit patients below the age of 60 years (Group I) and in patients above that age ‐ several suffering from cardiopulmonary disease ‐ (Group II), PaO 2 increased to about 40 kPa during preoxygenation and remained at that level during apnoea. Mean PaCO 2 increased to 6.3 and 5.7 kPa in Groups I and II, respectively. No complications were seen, and it is concluded that the apnoea involved in the “crash induction” technique is safe. Pulmonary aspiration of acid gastric fluid may also occur in fasting patients, and it is suggrhted that even in elective cases ventilation might advantageously be replaced by preoxygenation when anaesthesia is induced with thiopental and suxamethonium.