Anesthesiology
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Editorial Comment
Noradrenergic trespass in anesthetic and sedative states.
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Methoxycarbonyl etomidate is the prototypical soft etomidate analog. Because it has relatively low potency and is extremely rapidly metabolized, large quantities must be infused to maintain hypnosis. Consequently with prolonged infusion, metabolite reaches sufficient concentrations to delay recovery. Dimethyl-methoxycarbonyl metomidate (DMMM) and cyclopropyl-methoxycarbonyl metomidate (CPMM) are methoxycarbonyl etomidate analogs with higher potencies and slower clearance. Because of these properties, we hypothesized that dosing would be lower and electroencephalographic and hypnotic recoveries would be faster - and less context-sensitive - with DMMM or CPMM versus methoxycarbonyl etomidate or etomidate. ⋯ Electroencephalographic and hypnotic recoveries following prolonged infusions of DMMM and CPMM are faster than those following methoxycarbonyl etomidate or etomidate. In the case of CPMM infusion, recovery times are 4 min and context-insensitive.