EFFECT OF PENTOTHAL SODIUM ON BLOOD GAS TRANSPORT

Abstract

The arterial O2 content of dogs is lowered 15-20% by anesthetic doses of pentothal-Na, and the CO2 content is increased. Ap-prox. half of the O2 drop can be accounted for by respiratory depression, and is counteracted by artificial ventilation. The remaining O2 decrease is due to hemodilution, as revealed by hematocrit studies. Epinephrine alone (intraven.) will restore the pre-anesthetic O2 level by restoring the hematocrit and by facilitating pulmonary gaseous exchange through respiratory and/or circulatory stimulation.