[Calculation of the amount of thiopental used in induction of anesthesia].

A retrospective investigation was undertaken of the amount of thiopental employed in induction of anaesthesia. This revealed that only three factors were of significance for the dosage employed: age, weight and cardiac disease. In patients over the age of 70 years, the dosage could be reduced by 30%. In patients of more than 10% overweight, the dosage could be reduced by 7% and in patients who were 10% underweight, the dosage was increased by 10%. In cases of heart disease the dosage was reduced by 20% in the proportion of 5 mg thiopental per kg body-weight.