High-dose thiopentone for open-chamber cardiac surgery: a retrospective review

High-dose thiopentone has been reported to reduce the incidence of neurological dysfunction after open-chamber cardiac surgery. However, this technique delays tracheal extubation and increases requirements for inotropic support after cardiopulmonary bypass. As a quality assurance measure to determine the safety of high-dose thiopentone, we reviewed the records of all patients undergoing elective, open-chamber surgery at our institution between 1st March, 1987 and 31st Dec, 1989.

The charts of 236 patients were reviewed retrospectively, and 227 met our inclusion criteria. The perioperative characteristics of patients anaesthetized with thiopentone (Group T, n = 80) were compared with those of patients anaesthetized with opioids (Group O, n = 147).

Anaesthetic technique was chosen by the attending anaesthetist. in Group T (n = 80) thiopentone 38.1 +/- 11.8 mg.kg-1 was infused to produce electroencephalographic burst-suppression during bypass. Moderate hypothermia and arterial line filtration were used during bypass. The groups did not differ with respect to demographics, type of surgery, or conduct of bypass. There were no strokes in Group T and 4 in Group O (P = NS). The time to extubation was prolonged in Group T compared with Group O (39 +/- 51 vs 27 +/- 24 h, P = 0.014), as was the duration of stay in intensive care (66 +/- 56 vs 51 +/- 29 h, P = 0.010). Thiopentone did not increase the need for inotropic or mechanical support after bypass. In-hospital mortality was lower in Group T than in Group O (1.2% vs 9.5%, P = 0.034).

High-dose thiopentone delays extubation after open-chamber procedures. However, the technique appears safe, and further prospective investigation is justifiable.