American journal of hospital pharmacy
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Clinical Trial
Barbiturate-induced coma to protect against cerebral ischemia and increased intracranial pressure.
The use of barbiturates to induce coma as a means of extending the period of reversible cerebral ischemia is reviewed. Barbiturate use in patients who had had strokes or were undergoing aneurysm surgery was initially encouraging. In uncontrolled feasibility trials in patients with cardiopulmonary arrest or in deep coma, 40 patients received 10 mg/kg thiopental sodium by i.v. push followed by 20 mg/kg thiopental sodium i.v. over the next 30 minutes; 60% of these patients regained consciousness. ⋯ Focal and global cerebral ischemia have been shown amenable to barbiturate therapy in isolated cases. The prophylactic use of barbiturates in surgical procedures requiring focal cerebral anoxia appears to be beneficial. Controlled trials of the use of barbiturate-induced coma are clearly indicated.