Methitural Research Articles

Pentothal Postcards

West New York, New JerseyWake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. rcalicot@wfubmc.eduPentothal Postcards. By David C. Lai, M.D. West New York, New Jersey, Mark Batty Publisher, 2005. Pages: 190. Price: $24.95.This engaging little book is full of 87 postcards sent out by Abbott (Abbott Park, IL) as part of a long-running advertising campaign. The marketing strategy was very successful because the majority of those now practicing anesthesia have never used thiamylal sodium (Surital) or methitural sodium (Neraval). The campaign was held from 1954 to 1968 using a variety of languages, destinations, handwriting styles, messages, and recipients, making this a very intriguing book.As you move through the book, you cannot help but wonder whether the recipients of these cards ever visited any of these destinations. Did they wonder for a moment about these delightful getaways? Was Abbott also successful in promoting the burgeoning travel industry? This is certainly something to consider as you linger on the countless beautiful pictures.Pentothal Postcards is both a nostalgic look at the more simple 1950s and ‘60s and a retrospective of this most successful strategy. David C. Lai, M.D. (Tacoma, Washington), has painstakingly collected an impressive variety of postcards mailed both to those who delivered anesthesia as well as patients, pharmacists, and those who ordered the drug for their hospitals. The simple photographs depict far away places, when people were just beginning to travel as a result of cheaper, more convenient modes of transportation. One can only imagine the feeling of sophistication upon receiving an item that beckons the seasoned traveler, the belief that these exotic destinations were right at your fingertips and only hours away. This must have been very appealing during a more carefree era when mass production had not yet consumed everyone and everything. The written messages were not photocopied in mass quantity; the variety of handwriting, plus the mailing of the card from the location with the franking of that city, makes for an impressive uniqueness that each recipient had to have felt. The addresses without zip codes further mark an uncluttered time. This book is easy to peruse because the originally chosen pictures, still beautiful and exotic, continue to beckon us to a simpler time and place.Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. rcalicot@wfubmc.edu

Induction of General Anaesthesia in Cattle with Methitural Sodium and Thiopentone Sodium: A Comparison

SummaryTwo series of 60 cattle were given, respectively, methitural sodium and thiopentone sodium by rapid intravenous injection for the induction of anaesthesia prior to maintenance with a closed circuit circle absorber system. The respective mean doses were 16 mg./kg. (range 12—20 mg./kg.) and 11 mg./kg. (range 9—17 mg./kg.). The dose in a concentrated solution was injected in 5 seconds. Induction was satisfactory in all cases. Advantages of methitural compared with thiopentone included non‐irritability in perivascular sites, a lower incidence of apnoea, improved but still inadequate muscular relaxation and a longer period of anaesthesia. Disadvantages compared with thiopentone were a higher incidence of muscular tremors and laryngospasm.ZusammenfassungNarkoseeinleitung bei Rindern mit Methitural‐Natrium und Thiopenton‐Natrium (Vergleichende Untersuchungen)Zur Narkoseeinleitung bei zwei Rindergruppen von je 60 Tieren wurden Methitural‐Natrium und Thiopenton‐Natrium rasch intravenös injiziert. Anschlieβend wurde die Narkose auf dem Inhalationswege mittels geschlossenem Absorbersystem aufrechterhalten. Dosierungen: Methitural 12—20 mg/kg (Mittel: 16 mg/kg); Thiopenton 9—17 mg/kg (Mittel: 11 mg/kg). Die Narkotika wurden in einer konzentrierten Lösung (25—30%) innerhalb 5 Sekunden injiziert. Die Einleitung war immer befriedigend. Das Methitural zeigte gegenüber dem Thiopenton folgende Vorteile: keine Reizung bei paravenösem Austritt der Lösung, weniger häufiges Auftreten von Apnoen, bessere jedoch immer noch insuffiziente Muskelrelaxation und eine länger dauernde Anästhesie. Nachteile gegenüber Thiopenton waren: häufigeres Auftreten von Muskelzittern und Spasmen des Larynx.RésuméInduction de la narcose chez les bovins au méthitural‐sodium et à la thiopentone‐sodium (étude comparative)On injecte rapidement par voie intraveineuse respectivement du méthitural‐sodium (Thiogenal(R)) et de la thiopentone‐sodium (Intraval®) à deux groupes de 60 bovins, afin d'induire la narcose. Ensuite on procède à une narcose par inhalation en circuit fermé. Les doses moyennes sont de l'ordre de 16 mg/kg (variation de 12—20 mg/kg) pour le méthitural et de 11 mg/kg (variation de 9—17 mg/kg) pour la thiopentone. Les narcotiques sont injectés sous forme concentrée (25—30%) en 5 secondes. Si l'induction se montra satisfaisante dans tous les cas, le méthitural, comparé à la thiopentone, révéla les avantages suivants: irritation nulle dans les tissus paraveineux, apparition plus rare d'apnée, relaxation musculaire meilleure, mais encore inadéquate, et durée prolongée de l'anesthésie; ses désavantages étant l'apparition plus fréquente de tremblements musculaires et de spasmes laryngiques.ResumenInducción de la anestesia general en vacas con Methitural sódico y Thiopentona sódica (estudio comparativo)Dos grupos de 60 vacas cada vez se inyectaron por vía intravenosa con rapidez a fin de inducir la anestesia con Methitural sódico (Thiogenal(R)) y Thipentona (Intraval(R)), respectivamente. A esto siguió una narcosis inhalatoria en circuito cerrado. Las dosis medias correspondientes eran: Methitural 16 mg./kg. (anchura de variación 12—20 mg./kg.), Thiopentona 11 mg./kg. (anchura de variación 9—17 mg./kg.). Los anestesicos, que estaben muy concentrados (25—30%), se inyectaron en un plazo de 5 segundos. Frente a la Thiopentona, el Methitural ofrecía las ventajas siguientes: irritabilidad escasa en los derrames perivasculares, menor frecuencia de apneas, relajación muscular mejor, aunque todavía inadecuada y un período anestésico más duradero. Las desventajas frente a la Thiopentona consistían en la incidencia más frecuente de temblores musculares y laringoespasmos.

Methohexital, a short acting barbiturate.

AnaesthesiaVolume 15, Issue 4 p. 411-423 Free Access Methohexital A short acting barbiturate J. COLEMAN FFARCS, J. COLEMAN FFARCS Consultant Anæsthetist Wembley Hospital First Assistant Anæsthetist, Atkinson Morley's Hospital (St George's Hospital Group)Search for more papers by this authorR. A. GREEN FFARCS, R. A. GREEN FFARCS Consultant Anæsthetist Royal Free and St George's Hospital GroupsSearch for more papers by this author J. COLEMAN FFARCS, J. COLEMAN FFARCS Consultant Anæsthetist Wembley Hospital First Assistant Anæsthetist, Atkinson Morley's Hospital (St George's Hospital Group)Search for more papers by this authorR. A. GREEN FFARCS, R. A. GREEN FFARCS Consultant Anæsthetist Royal Free and St George's Hospital GroupsSearch for more papers by this author First published: October 1960 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2044.1960.tb13358.xCitations: 23AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References 1 MUSHIN, W. W. (1952). Brit. Med. J., 1, 431. Anæsthesia for Minor Procedures. 2 BOURNE, J. G. (1952). Lancet, 2, 705. Cyclopropane Anæsthesia for Dental Extractions. 3 GIBSON, W. R., DORAN, W. J. and WOOD, W. C. To be published. 4 BRODIE, B. B., BERNSTEIN, E. and MARK, L. C. (1952). Role of Body Fat in Limiting Duration of Action of Thiopental, J. Pharmacol. & Exper. Therap., 105, 421. 5 BRODIE, B. B., BURNS, J. J., MARK, L. C., LIEF, P. A. and PAPPER, E. M. (1953). Fate of Pentobarbital in Man and Dog and Method for Its Estimation in Biologic Material, J. Pharmacol. & Exper. Therap., 109, 26. 6 WYNGAARDEN, J. G., WOODS, L. A., RIDLEY, R. and SEEVERS, M. H. (1949). Anesthetic Properties of Sodium 5-Allyl-5-(1-Methyl-Butyl)-2-Thiobarbiturates (Surital) and Certain Other Thiobarbiturates in Dogs. J. Pharmacol. & Exper. Therap., 95, 322. 7 BELLVILLE, J. W. Personal communication. 8 DEININGER, R. (1955). Papierchromatographischer Nachiveis der Barbitursauren, Arzneimittel-Forsch. 5, 472. 9 MAYNERT, E. W. and DAWSON, J. M. (1952). Ethyl-(3-Hydroxy-1-Methyl butyl) Barbituric Acids as Metabolites of Pentobarbital. J. Biol. Chem., 195, 389. 10 MAYNERT, E. W. (1952). Ethyl-(3-Hydroxyisoamyl) Barbituric Acid as the Principal Metabolite of Amytal. J. Biol. Chem., 195, 397. 11 HEATON, C. E. (1956). Clinical Experiences with 1-Methyl-5-Allyl-5-(1-Methyl-2-Pentynyl) Barbituric Acid Sodium Salt, Current Res. in Anesth. and Analg., 35, 522. 12 REDISH, C. H., VORE, R. E., CHERNISH, S. M. and GRUBER, C. M. JR. (1958). A Comparison of Thiopental Sodium, Methitural Sodium, and Compound 25398 in Oral Surgery Patients. Oral Surg., June.. 13 RIFFIN, I. M., PREISIG, R. and SCHWARTZ, B. Clinical Evaluation of a New Ultra-Short Acting Barbiturate Compound 25398. Bull. Mountainside Hosp. Montclair , N.J. Publication pending. 14 STOELTING, V. K. (1957). The Use of a New Intravenous Oxygen Barbiturate 25398 for Intravenous Anesthesia (A Preliminary Report). Anesth. & Analg., 36, 49. 15 WYANT, G. M., DOBKIN, A. B. and AASHEIM, G. M. (1957). Comparison of Seven Intravenous Anæsthetic Agents in Man. Brit. J. Anæsth., 29, 194. 16 DOBKIN, A. B. and WYANT, G. M. (1957). The Physiological Effects of Intravenous Anæsthesia in Man. Canad. Anæsth. Soc. J., 4, 295. 17 TAYLOR, C. and STOELTING, V. K. (1960). Anesthesiology, Jan-Feb, 21, 1, pp. 29– 34. 18 COLEMAN, D. J., HARGROVE, R. L. and JONES, P. O. (1958). Anæsthesia, 13, 1, January. Citing Literature Volume15, Issue4October 1960Pages 411-423 ReferencesRelatedInformation

A comparison of duration of hypnotic doses of thiopental and methitural for electroshock therapy.

A comparison of duration of hypnotic doses of thiopental and methitural for electroshock therapy.

Methitural sodium (Neraval sodium), an intravenous anesthetic for oral surgery procedures

Methitural sodium, a new short-acting thiobarbiturate anesthetic favorable for use in the oral surgery office as an intravenous anesthetic, demonstrates some noticeable advantages in that it shows a lessened recovery time with more complete mental alertness upon recovery. Side effects observed in this short study of only seventy-five cases are not conclusive in view of the fact that such complications as laryngospasms may be produced irrespective of the type of anesthetic used. Since it is our opinion that all short-acting thiobarbiturates being used today can be direct myocardial and respiratory depressants, 2 methitural sodium (Neraval sodium) offers among its advantages a slower induction, which is desirable in view of these facts, and the patient awakes faster, which is an advantage in resuscitating the depressed patient. Since the advent and employment of muscle relaxants, surgery is performed in very light planes of anesthesia. In the dental office the routine use of muscle relaxants as an anesthetic adjunct is not practical due to the fact that controlled respiration is somewhat disadvantageous to the operator. Because of the high fat-solubility ratio of methitural sodium, the continuous administration of methitural sodium enables the operator to maintain a light plane of anesthesia with less chance of rapidly overdosing the patient. Methitural sodium seems to be a safe anesthetic agent for dental procedures when administered by qualified and experienced anesthetists. As experience is gained over the years, we will become more familiar with all the advantages and disadvantages of the short-acting thiobarbiturates. As no one antibiotic is sufficient for all infections, no one anesthetic agent will be the panacea for all anesthesia needs.

A comparison of thiopental sodium, methitural sodium, and methohexital sodium in oral surgery patients

A comparison of thiopental sodium, methitural sodium, and methohexital sodium in oral surgery patients

A preliminary clinical evaluation of methitural sodium (Neraval) in dental surgery

A preliminary clinical evaluation of methitural sodium (Neraval) in dental surgery

Development of the newer thiobarbiturates used in anaesthesia.

An attempt has been made to show the slow progress of intravenous anaesthesia. Some of the newer thiobarbiturates which have been and are being evaluated have been reviewed. A preliminary report of our experience with methitural sodium (Neraval Sodium) is presented. It seems that the only definite advantage it has over those presently used is the rapid recovery. Before one can even predict whether this drug will have a definite place in anaesthesia, it must be subjected to more rigorous studies.

Methitural sodium for the induction of paediatric anaesthesia

Experience with methitural sodium in 225 children ranging from one day to sixteen years of age indicates that this agent may be safely administered to all age groups and for all procedures in which other barbiturates are not contraindicated.