Suppression of brainstem reflexes in barbiturate coma.
Brainstem reflexes were examined in 23 children treated with thiopentone infusion and correlated with serum thiopentone concentrations. The results suggest that if all brainstem reflexes are lost with a serum thiopentone concentration less than 40 mg/l, it is unlikely to be due to the thiopentone alone. Other causes including brain death need to be considered.
Intensive Care Unit, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
P J
PJ
Grattan-Smith
W
W
Butt
D000293:Adolescent; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013874:Thiopental