[Comparative study of post-anesthesia awakening and behavior following alfatesine and pentothal]

A study of behaviour during the awakening of subjects which had been anaesthetized with a single dose of Alfatesine or of Pentothal was undertaken. This comparison between two anaesthetic drugs offers the opportunity to make, firstly, a critical analysis of the methods of exploration of anaesthetic awakening which are habitually used. An attempt at the definition of this period and a review of the literature on the subject are given, as well as the possible approaches to this period, insisting principally on psychomotor tests. A list of variables which enter into consideration in this type of study completes the account of the methodology. Next, the procedure for the experimental study properly speaking is given. Seven psychomotor tests were chosen, completed by a clinical study. The timetable, the anaesthetic conditions and the process of collecting the information are explained. The clinical results and the results obtained from the tests show extensive perturbations of behaviour lasting for up to one-and-a-half hours following the injection of one or the other product. However, the intensity and the duration of the disturbances recorded are definitely greater with Pentothal. In addition, the state of anxiety before operation could be shown objectively through certain tests. A study of this type poses a certain number of problems and perspectives which are envisaged.