COMPARISON OF A NEW FORMULATION OF ETOMIDATE WITH THIOPENTAL - SIDE-EFFECTS AND AWAKENING TIMES

Etomidate and thiopental were compared in hypnotic-narcotic-nitrous oxide anesthesia for minor gynecologic operations. The mean total dose of etomidate was 0.03 mg/kg/min (range: 0.016 to 0.045) and the mean total dose of thiopental was 0.33 mg/kg/min (range: 0.18 to 0.82). The induction dose of thiopental was 13 times that of etomidate, and the total dose administered was 11 times that of etomidate. Awakening times were shorter after etomidate, although the difference was not statistically significant. No patient had persistent venous irritation or phlebitis, but two patients receiving etomidate felt burning on injection. Muscle tremors resembling shivering, accompanied by rigidity of the extremities, lasting about 3 min, were observed in two patients in the etomidate group. These did not recur when subsequent doses were given. In Group A, (etomidate) 10/20 patients vomited and 1/20 was nauseated but did not vomit upon awakening. Six patients underwent voluntary interruption of pregnancy and received oxytocics. In Group B, 1/20 vomited and 2/20 were nauseated. The one who vomited underwent voluntary interruption of pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting were the only side effects, occurring more frequently in patients who received etomidate (P<0.025). No other side effect was seen with either drug.