[Study of a new respiratory analeptic: injectable almatrine. Apropos of 22 cases of acute hypoventilation: respiratory activity and electroencephalographic control].

2620 is a respiratory analeptic which acts by stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors. It was administered intravenously in 22 patients in acute respiratory insufficiency. Doses during the first hour varied between 0.7 and 3 mg/kg. A careful study of the effects on respiration showed a significant increase in minute ventilation without any proportional increase in frequency for doses of between 1.7 and 3 mg/kg. Continuous recording of the electroencephalogram over a period of one hour revealed no convulsant effect even in particularly vulnerable patients. In seven patients, tracings showed a change in the sense of increased consciousness which corresponded with the clinical course of the diseases responsible for the state of hypoventilation.