Adverse responses to i.v. anaesthetics.

The adverse reactions to i.v. anaesthetics which occurred during a 3-yr period in one hospital were investigated. Sixteen reactions were reported; 13 of these occurred in a total of 7906 administrations of Althesin, two in 45 546 administrations of thiopentone and one in 630 administrations of methohexitone. The pathological process was identified in 10 patients. Most reactions were caused by activation of the alternate pathway for complement conversion.