A comparative study of intravenous anaesthesia with thiopental versus althesin in outpatient dental practice.

Clinical effects of two intravenous anaesthetics--thiopental and althesin--were compared in a group of 160 outpatients. Each anaesthetic was used in 80 cases. The administration of these anaesthetics was preceded by an intravenous injection of fentanyl and atropine sulphate. Anaesthesia was carried out with the patient sitting in dental chair. The observations confirmed that this method of anaesthesia provides good conditions for carrying out minor dental operations and is safe for the patient, as evidenced by a negligible number of minor complications. A comparison of the results of clinical observations and gasometric determinations indicates that althesin is superior in outpatient practice to thiopental. This simple and easy technique of anaesthesia without the necessity of using expensive apparatus should be widely introduced in outpatient practice.