Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 21, 1-14, Copyright © 1974 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Thiopentone/Lidocaine Anaesthesia For Pneumoencephalography

¹ Department of Anaesthesia, Wellesley Hospital, Toronto and the University of Toronto

A solution of 1.5 gm thiopentone and 0.2 gm lidocaine in 500 cc normal saline was 4 used successfully as the general anaesthetic for pneumoencaphalography in 23 consecutive, unselected patients. The depth of anaesthesia was effectively controlled by regulating the rate of infusion of this intravenous solution. Spontaneous respirations were adequate, blood pressures were well maintained and no arrhythmias were recorded during the procedures, despite the extreme positional changes to which the patients were subjected.

The technique was assessed with continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure, lumbar cerebro-spinal fluid pressure, respirations, electrocardiogram, arterial blood gases and serum drug levels of thiopentone and lidocaine.

We believe the technique to be more satisfactory than other reported anaesthetic techniques for pneumoencephalography.

Some observations about cerebro-spinal fluid pressures during pneumoencephalography, and their relationship to altered cerebro-spinal fluid dynamics, are also made.