title: Complications and side effects during thiopentone therapy in patients with severe head injuries.
abstract: This study reports all complications and side effects occurring in 38 patients with severe traumatic brain lesions treated with barbiturate coma because of a dangerous increase in intracranial pressure. The treatment was induced by intravenous infusion of thiopentone (5-11 mg.kg-1) followed by a continuous infusion of 4-8 mg.kg-1.h-1. The subsequent rate of thiopentone infusion was governed by the level of the intracranial pressure with the intention of keeping ICP below 20 mmHg (2.7 kPa). The duration of treatment was 1-15 days. Arterial hypotension occurred in 58%, hypokalemia in 82%, respiratory complications in 76%, infections in 55%, hepatic dysfunction in 87% and renal dysfunction in 47% of the patients. Twenty patients survived. Mortality in 17 patients was caused by an untreatable increase in intracranial pressure. In one patient complications due to barbiturate treatment may have contributed to the fatal outcome. In none of the other cases were the noted complications and side effects associated with any permanent symptoms or dysfunctions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schalén
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Messeter
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nordström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D013874:Thiopental / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013874:Thiopental