title: Etomidate--a review of robust evidence for its use in various clinical scenarios.
abstract: Etomidate is an intravenous hypnotic with a favourable clinical profile in haemodynamic high-risk scenarios. Currently, there is an active debate about the clinical significance of the drug's side effects and its overall risk-benefit ratio. Etomidate-induced transient adrenocortical suppression is well documented and has been associated with increased mortality in sepsis. In surgical patients at risk of hypotensive complications, however, a review of current literature provides no robust evidence to contraindicate a single-bolus etomidate induction. Large randomised controlled trials as well as additional observational data are required to compare safety of etomidate and its alternatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and PainTherapy, University Hospital Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erdoes
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Basciani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eberle
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D016292:Procedural Sedation; D005045:Etomidate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018805:Sepsis / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005045:Etomidate