The use of etomidate infusions during anaesthesia for cardiopulmonary bypass.

The effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia were studied on the plasma concentration and metabolism of a continuous infusion of etomidate in six patients. Continuous etomidate infusions (20 micrograms/kg/minute) with analgesic cover may be a suitable anaesthetic for cardiac surgery. This rate of infusion provides adequate plasma concentrations, and it would appear unnecessary from the results to alter the rate of infusion during cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia.