[Rapid induction of anesthesia with propofol--comparison with thiopental]

We investigated hemodynamic changes, induction time and the incidence of pain after rapid induction of anesthesia with propofol (Group P) in comparison with those after induction with thiopental (Group B). Anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5 mg.kg-1 in Group P and thiopental 5 mg.kg-1 in Group B taking 20 seconds. When verbal response disappeared, tracheal intubation was performed with suxamethonium 1.2 mg.kg-1. The incidence of pain on injection, time from the start of injection of the drug to the disappearance of verbal response (induction time), blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product (RPP) were monitored. The pain on injection was seen in 6 of 30 patients in Group P. This was significantly larger compared with 3 patients in Group B. The induction time was not different between the two groups. One minute after intubation, blood pressure, heart rate and RPP were significantly higher compared with those before induction in Group B. These were also significantly higher than those in Group P. Therefore, rapid induction with propofol is more useful compared with that with thiopental.