J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 57(11): 1904-1918, 1957

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CLINICAL STUDIES OF BASAL ANAESTHESIA IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN USING SODIUM THIOPENTOTHAL BY RECTUM

Since 1953, we have used as the basal anaesthesia, the rectal anaesthesia with 10% thiopentothal sodium in 411 cases of infants and children (from 55 days after birth to 14-year-old). The dosage of thiopntothal sodium employed was 18-50 mg/kg of body weight, average 37.85 mg/kg of body weight. We got the enough satisfactory effect in 97% in these cases.
Using this method, preoperative apprehensions and psychic trauma were abolished. furthermore undesirable side effect are rarely occurred.
And we studied the influences to children, who were administered rectally 40 mg of thiopentothal sodium per kilogram of body weight, from the clinico-physiological stand point. The results were as follows :
1) E.E.G.: The E.E.G. pattern does not show any sign of brain hypoxia, or sign of such a deep anaesthesia which may be caused by intravenous administration of this drug.
2) E.C.G.: Pulse rate were slightly decreased, but we could see neither arrythmia nor sign of myocardial disturbances.
3) Oxygen and CO₂ contents in arterial and venous blood : The oxygen content in arterial blood are decreased, but slightly, and CO₂ content are slightly increased as a result of respiratory depressant action of thiopentothal sodium. The oxygen difference between arterial and venous blood are decreased about 15% after rectal administration.
4) The O₂ consumption were decreased about 23% during sleep. Thus we could achieve main purpose of premedication, we think.
5) Liver function was not disturb d by this method.
6) Pain threshold did not show any remarkable changes till the child fell into sleep, but during sleep it increased 7-8 times higher than before.
7) Pulse rate and blood pressure did not show remarkable changes after administration.
8) Ventilation was decreased about 30% during sleep.
(author's abstract)

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