COMPARISON OF PROPOFOL WITH METHOHEXITONE IN THE PROVISION OF ANAESTHESIA FOR SURGERY UNDER REGIONAL BLOCKADE

Propofol was compared with methohexitone for provision of lightgeneral anaesthesia in patients undergoing surgery under spinalanalgesia. Intermittent bolus administration of both agentsproved a feasible way of maintaining anaesthesia, a mean infusionrate of 0.13 mg kg^–1 min^–1 being required for propofoland 0.089 mg kg^–1 min^–1 for methohexitone. Propofolproduced smoother anaesthesia with significantly fewer excitatoryside effects and less pain on injection, but cardiovascularand respiratory depression occurred commonly. Recovery was rapidwith both agents, but minor postoperative sequelae occurredmore frequently after methohexitone.