CLINICAL STUDIES OF INDUCTION AGENTS VIII: A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF ATROPINE AND HYOSCINE ON THE COURSE AND SEQUELAE OF THIOPENTONE ANAESTHESIA

A standard operative procedure and anaesthetic technique were employed to compare the effects of 0.6 mg atropine and 0.4 mg hyoscine, given as part or all of premedication, on the course of thiopentone anaesthesia. The incidence and severity of muscle movement following induction was increased by the use of hyoscine, but not to the same extent as previously found with methohexitone. This effect was not seen when the antisialogogues were combined with pethidine 100 mg or papaveretum 20 mg. Both these opiates increased the incidence of vomiting and nausea; hyoscine appeared to be a better anti-emetic than atropine. Hyoscine delayed recovery from anaesthesia, but there was no evidence to show that it “potentiated” thiopentone.