ANAESTHESIA FOR CARDIOVERSION: A COMPARISON OF ALTHESIN AND THIOPENTONE

Althesin was compared with thiopentone in patients undergoing elective cardioversion. Anaesthesia lasted somewhat longer after Althesin but the patients preferred Althesin because they were less drowsy after it. The success rate of conversion of arrhythmia was slightly but insignificantly higher in the Althesin group. There were no statistically significant differences in the fall in blood pressure, changes in heart rate, and occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias or of duration of apnoea between patients anaesthetized with thiopentone and with Althesin, but the incidence of excitatory side effects was significantly higher with Althesin. It is concluded that although Althesin does not seem to be superior to thiopentone as an anaesthetic for cardioversion, it is a safe anaesthetic for this purpose if the vital functions of the patient are looked after and maintained by an anaesthetist.