[A clinical study on the use of etomidate for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia (author's transl)].

The action of etomidate, a short-acting non-barbiturate hypnotic agent, was studied in three groups of patients. Used alone for induction it did not significantly alter either the pulse rate or the diastolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure fell slightly, but became stable after 2 minutes. The pH of the arterial blood was not significantly altered. pO2 and pCO2 showed changes indicative of respiratory depression during induction (group 1). Etomidate combined with fentanyl caused a moderate, significant fall in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure, but did not affect the pulse rate (group 2). In view of its inconsiderable haemodynamic effects etomidate can be regarded as a safe agent for induction. In doses of 10-20 micrograms/kilogramme bodyweight/minute infusions of etomidate (combined with fentanyl and muscle relaxants) provide adequate basal narcosis for most routine surgical operations. It cannot, however, be considered the anaesthetic of choice for major abdominal surgery which requires deep analgesia and full muscular relaxation (group 3).