An Evaluation of Ethamivan as a Respiratory Stimulant in Barbiturate Intoxication, and Alveolar Hypoventilation in Emphysema and Obesity

Abstract

The role of respiratory stimulants in the management of acute respiratory failure due to barbiturate intoxication or chronic respiratory failure due to pulmonary disease is a subject of considerable debate. While some investigators claim that analeptics are of little use in the management of barbiturate intoxication (1), others have recently stated that ethamivan (Emivan®), a central nervous system stimulant, is valuable (2-4). Similarly, it has been reported to be beneficial in chronic respiratory failure by some authors (5, 6), while less impressive results have also been reported (7). This paper presents an attempt to evaluate the effect of ethamivan in