Methohexitone and thiopentone. Response to stimuli and incidence of some side effects.

Over 600 patients were anaesthetized for minor urological procedures widi either methohexitone or thiopentone, to compare the analgesic or antanalgesic effects of these drugs. Movement in response to preparation with a cold solution was more frequent after mediohexitone. After 200 cases the dosage was increased by 20 per cent so as to reduce the incidence of this response, and this increased dose was given to the next 400 patients. This caused an increase in the proportion of patients responding to cold; there was also a marked increase in the incidence of respiratory depression and of hiccup; hiccup was linked with passive ventilation of the lungs. The incidence of arterial hypotension and respiratory depression was the same with both drugs. There was no significant difference in the incidence of movement during the passage of a cystoscope or bouginage, perhaps because by then the patient had received some inhalation anaesthesia.