We sought to determine if the solvent in the formulation of etomidate is responsible for haemolysis in patients. In a randomized, prospective, double-blind study of 49 patients undergoing otolaryngological surgery, patients received etomidate dissolved in propylene glycol or in lipid emulsion. Concentrations of free haemoglobin and haptoglobin were measured before and for up to 360 min after in...

Address correspondence to: Sebastián R. Gatica Moris, Department of Anesthesiology University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, A-989 Main Building, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067. Tel: (787) 758-2525 ext. 1920/1921, (787) 7580640, (787)766-2844 • Fax: (787) 758-1327 • Email: [email protected] Etomidate has been used since 1972 as an inductor and in maintaining anesthesia. ...

The authors describe etomidate, a new intravenous nonbarbiturate hypnotic for induction of anesthesia, through a series of three separate studies undertaken at their medical facility. The results of their studies coincide with the experience of other researchers, showing etomidate to be a useful agent for induction because of its rapid onset, short duration of action, and minimal cardiovascular...

Among hypnotic agents that enhance GABAA receptor function, etomidate is unusual because it is selective for beta2/beta3 compared with beta1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. Mice incorporating an etomidate-insensitive beta2 subunit (beta(2N265S)) revealed that beta2 subunit-containing receptors mediate the enhancement of slow-wave activity (SWA) by etomidate, are required for the sedative, a...

BACKGROUND The anesthetic properties of etomidate are largely mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors. There is evidence for the existence of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor subtypes in the brain, which respond to small concentrations of etomidate. After awakening from anesthesia, these subtypes are expected to cause cognitive dysfunction for a yet unknown period of time. T...

Etomidate, one of the most potent general anesthetics used clinically, acts at micromolar concentrations as an anesthetic and positive allosteric modulator of gamma-aminobutyric acid responses, whereas it inhibits muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) at concentrations above 10 microm. We report here that TDBzl-etomidate, a photoreactive etomidate analog, acts as a positive all...

Introduction: Etomidate, the imidazole derivative, is an intravenous anaesthetic induction agent, having stable hemodynamic profile, minimal respiratory side effects and histamine release. It is extremely useful in hemodynamically compromised patients. But the most common problem associated with its induction is myoclonus. Objective: To determine the effect of pretreatment with midazolam on the...

Objective, To survey the pediatric trauma programs to ascertain if and how etomidate is being used for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in pediatric trauma patients. Design, A 25 question survey was created using REDCaps. A link to the survey was emailed to each of the pediatric and adult trauma programs that care for pediatric patients. Setting, Pediatric trauma programs and adult trauma progra...

The i.v. anaesthetic agents propofol, thiopentone and etomidate inhibited ACTH-stimulated production of cortisol by guineapig dispersed adrenal cells in a dose-related manner. For two of the drugs, propofol and thiopentone, inhibition occurred over a similar concentration range: 2 X 10(-5) - 5 X 10(-4) mol litre-1. With etomidate, inhibition occurred over a much lower concentration range (5 X 1...

Clinical question Does the use of etomidate for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in critically ill patients lead to harm compared to another intravenous induction agent? Article chosen Jabre P, Combes X, Lapostolle F, et al. Etomidate versus ketamine for rapid sequence intubation in acutely ill patients: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2009;374:293–300. Study objective The stud...