Hepatic disposition of methohexitone in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery

In order to clarify the relative contribution of hepatic metabolism to the short term disposition of methohexitone, we have measured hepatic blood flow during induction of anaesthesia with a 1.5-mg kg-1 i.v. bolus dose of methohexitone. Median hepatic clearance was 1.01 litre min-1 and hepatic extraction 87%. As a consequence of the high hepatic extraction, the hepatic clearance of methohexitone was closely dependent on hepatic plasma flow.