A comparative study of six induction agents of anaesthesia at Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

A comparative study between althesin, etomidate, flunitrazepam, ketamine, propanidid and thiopentone was carried out on 263 adult patients presenting for minor gynaecological operations between August and January, 1980 on a cohort principle. The results of the study indicate that except for thiopentone and propanidid, the induction doses established in the study are similar to those recommended in the literature. Ketamine was associated with a significantly high incidence of hypertonia; and etomidate had as a disturbing s ide effect, involuntary muscle movements. These two induction agents were therefore considered poor choices for the minor operations, undertaken in this study. Both thi open tone and fl uni trazepam were associ ated with prolonged recovery periods. But despite this setback, thiopentone produced good and reliable anaesthesia.