Barbiturates* ; Brain* ; Membranes* ; Phospholipids*

Barbiturates* ; Brain* ; Membranes*

Millions of injection of sodium thiopental have been clinically used since it was introduced by Lundy in 1934. As with other barbiturates, cutaneous allergic manifestation are rather frequently seen, but reports of anaphlyactic reactions are rare. Probably many cases have not been recognized or have been misdiagnosed. It is believed that some cases of unexplained collapse or even death after thiopental inductions are very possibly due to an unrecognized anaphylactic action. This report presents a case of anaphylactic action due to injection of sodium thiopental and the references were reviewed.
Anaphylaxis* ; Barbiturates ; Sodium ; Thiopental*

Barbiturates* ; Brain* ; Cholesterol* ; Membranes* ; Phospholipids*

Fixed drug eruption normally presents as single or multiple sharply demarcated erythematous lesions that recur at the same location upon re-exposure to the offending agent. When the acute inflammation subsides, it often leaves residual hyperpigmentation. Commonly implicated substances are phenolphthalein, barbiturates, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, salicylates, gold and pyrazolone derivatives. Despite frequent use of acetaminophen, drug eruptions, especially fixed drug eruptions, due to acetaminophen are extrernely rare. We report here a childhood case of fixed drug eruption caused by acetaminophen, which is extensively used as an over-the-counter drug, as well as in medical therapy.
Acetaminophen* ; Barbiturates ; Drug Eruptions* ; Hyperpigmentation ; Inflammation ; Phenolphthalein ; Salicylates ; Sulfonamides ; Tetracyclines

The capacity of hypothermia to protect the brain during a period of decreased or absent oxygen delivery(hypoxia) is well established both experimentally and clinically. And also experimentally, barbiturates, which are the most potent pharmacologic depressants of cerebral metabolism, do provide protection. A 25 year-old patien, who had suffered from hypoxic cerebral hypoxia was satisfactorily treated by a combination therapy with Thiopental Sodium and low-grade Hypothermia.
Adult ; Barbiturates ; Brain ; Humans ; Hypothermia* ; Hypoxia, Brain* ; Metabolism ; Oxygen ; Thiopental*

Bilateral traumatic carotid-cavernous fistulae (TCCFs) is rarely encountered neurovascular disease. For treatment of TCCF, detachable balloons have been widely used. Nowadays, transarterial and/or transvenous coil embolization with placement of covered stents is adopted as another treatment method. We experienced a patient with a bilateral TCCFs who was successfully treated with covered stents. However, cerebral hemorrhage occurred in the bed of previous infarction one day after treatment. Hyperperfusion syndrome was considered as a possible cause of the hemorrhage, so that barbiturate coma therapy was started and progression of hemorrhage was stopped. We emphasize that cerebral hyperperfusion hemorrhage can occur even after successful endovascular treatment of TCCF.
Barbiturates ; Caves ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Coma ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Stents

OBJECTIVE: Barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) is a useful method to control increased intracranial pressure (IICP) patients. However, the complications such as hypotension and hypokalemia have caused conditions that stopped BCT early. The complications of low dose BCT with Bispectral(TM) index (BIS) monitoring and those of high dose BCT without BIS monitoring have been compared to evaluate the efficacy of low dose BCT with BIS monitoring. METHODS: We analyzed 39 patients with high dose BCT group (21 patients) and low dose BCT group (18 patients). Because BIS value of 40-60 is general anesthesia score, we have adjusted the target dose of thiopental to maintain the BIS score of 40-60. Therefore, dose of thiopental was kept 1.3 to 2.6 mg/kg/hour during low dose BCT. However, high dose BCT consisted of 5 mg/kg/hour without BIS monitoing. RESULTS: The protocol of BCT was successful in 72.2% and 38.1% of low dose and high dose BCT groups, respectively. The complications such as QT prolongation, hypotension and cardiac arrest have caused conditions that stopped BCT early. Hypokalemia showed the highest incidence rate in complications of both BCT. The descent in potassium level were 0.63 +/- 0.26 in low dose group, and 1.31 +/- 0.48 in high dose group. The treatment durations were 4.89 +/- 1.68 days and 3.38 +/- 1.24 days in low dose BCT and high dose BCT, respectively. CONCLUSION: It was proved that low dose BCT showed less severe complications than high dose BCT. Low dose BCT with BIS monitoring provided enough duration of BCT possible to control ICP.
Anesthesia, General ; Barbiturates ; Coma ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Hypertension ; Intracranial Pressure ; Potassium ; Thiopental

Direct surgical repair of complex intracranial vascular lesions is difficult. Sometimes the neurosurgery is performed under circulatory arrest, profound hypothermia and barbiturates cerebral protection. Total ischemia is tolerated for 30~60 minutes because oxygen requirements of the brain decrease exponentially as body temperature is lowered. We experienced that this technique was successfully used for inoperable basilar artery aneurysm. We reviewed the surgical and anesthetic considerations of basilar artery aneurysm.
Aneurysm* ; Barbiturates ; Body Temperature ; Brain ; Hypothermia* ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Ischemia ; Neurosurgery ; Oxygen

PURPOSE: This study is a descriptive research to analyze prognostic factors of barbiturate coma therapy (BCT) for severe brain damage patients, to develop a critical pathway (CP) based on the results of analysis and to examine the effect of its clinical application. METHOD: We analyzed medical records of 76 patients who received BCT for more than three days between January 1999 to July 2005. Based on the results of the analysis, we developed a CP and applied it to 12 people during August-December of 2005. RESULT: By application of BCT CP, the mortality rate decreased from 31.6% to 16.7%. It was found that the period of staying at ICU and total period of hospitalization were shortened by 2.78 (13.9%) days and 16.43 (29.4%) days, respectively. The Glasgow coma scale of the recovery group by CP application was 9.03 (4.64) at 72 hours post of BCT and 14.28 (1.82) at discharge from hospital, and DRS was 6.62 (6.38) points. CONCLUSION: By verifying clinical validity of the suggested CP, we believe that we have obtained visible effects standardizing the treatment pathway of BCT for brain damage patients.
Barbiturates ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Coma ; Critical Pathways ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medical Records