A comparison between sodium nitroprusside and trimetaphan-induced hypotension.

Hypotension induced with nitroprusside is compared with the same degree of hypotension produced by trimetaphan in terms of cerebral perfusion, oxygenation and brain electrical activity. It is concluded that in all these respects nitroprusside has advantages over trimetaphan. On the other hand, nitroprusside increases intracranial pressure whilst trimetaphan does not. Both these drugs have a place in hypotension for neurosurgery.