Thirty mothers undergoing elective Caesarean section received thiopentone 3.5 mg kg-1 and 30 received etomidate 0.3 mg kg-1 for induction of anaesthesia. Subsequent management of anaesthesia was identical in both groups. Maternal to fetal base excess differences and the degree of biochemical correlation between mother and infant were more favourable following etomidate than following thiopenton...