Methohexttone as a Supplement to Nitrous Oxide During Intracranial Surgery

Abstract

The use of a methohexitone drip to supplement nitrous oxide and oxygen anaesthesia for intracranial surgery is described. Operating conditions are equally as good as those with thiopentone, and recovery at the end is more rapid and more complete.

Comparison of Infusions of Propofol and Methohexitone to Provide Light General Anaesthesia During Surgery With Regional Blockade

“…The mean maintenance dose of methohexitone 104 ug kg" 1 min" 1 was higher than that reported to supplement nitrous oxide anaesthesia (Hunter, 1972;Prys-Roberts et al, 1983); there are no comparable figures yet available for propofol. The incidence of complications associated with the two drugs was similar, although severe pain on injection occurred only with propofol.…”

“…Methohexitone has been used quite extensively as a sole anaesthetic agent by intermittent injection and by infusion for such procedures as tonsillectomy in children (Liscombe, 1968), conservative dentistry (Mann et al, 1971) and bronchoscopy (Hargrove and Pearce, 1964;Mclntosh et al, 1979) and also to supplement nitrous oxide anaesthesia (Hunter, 1972;Prys-Roberts et al, 1983). Earlier investigations on blood concentrations were unable to explain the more rapid recovery following methohexitone than following thiopentone (Sunshine et al, 1966), but the development of more sensitive assay techniques showed that the elimination half-life of methohexitone was relatively short (Breimer, 1976).…”

Effect of Etomidate on Intracranial Pressure and Cerebral Perfusion Pressure

“…Thus, its use by continuous i.v. infusion may have a place, as an alternative to methohexitone (Hunter, 1972) or Althesin, in maintaining anaesthesia in patients with intracranial space-occupying lesions. The rapid metabolism of the drug and its ability to reduce i.c.p.…”

“…to induce anaesthesia have been shown to decrease intracranial pressure (i.c.p.) (Horsley, 1937;Hunter, 1972;Turner et al, 1973) and cerebral blood flow (c.b.f.) (Pierce et al, 1962;Herrschaft et al, 1975;Sari et al, 1976), with the sole exception of ketamine, ""which increases both i.c.p.…”

Methohexitone-Induced Convulsions in Epileptics

“…Alas, numbers were too small to achieve statistical significance. In support of this bias, of thirteen reported cases of grand mal convulsions during methohexitone anaesthesia (Heaton 1956, Redish et al 1958, Goldman 1969, Galley 1963and 1966, Ryder 1969, Mann et al 1971, Hunter 1972 all but one were given the agent by intermittent injection of a 1% or stronger solution. The exception was reported by Hunter (1972) with the patient undergoing intracranial surgery under 0·1 % infusion with small doses of curare.…”