A comparative study of propofol and thiopental as induction agents for elective caesarean section.

Twenty women for elective caesarean section received either propofol 2.3 mg/kgr or thiopental 4.4 mg/kgr for induction of general anaesthesia. Maintainance was similar for both groups. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were recorded non-invasively before anaesthesia, during intubation, one and five minutes after intubation. There were no significant differences in haemodynamic response between the two groups. During intubation heart rate rose in both groups, but remained increased five minutes after tracheal intubation only in the thiopental treated women (p less than 0.05). There was no significant neonatal depression as assessed by Apgar Scores and blood gas analyses. Propofol appears to be a suitable alternative to thiopental as an induction agent for obstetric anaesthesia.