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The effect of barbiturates on cardiac rate and rhythm during halothane anesthesia without intubation was studied in a triple-blind, randomized trial with 28 patients. The test group was premedicated with pentobarbital and induced with thiopental, while the control group was anesthetized with halothane and nitrous oxide only. There was a significant preponderance of sinus-bradycardia and supraventricular disturbances in the control group. It is concluded that the use of barbiturates is advantageous because of their ability to suppress enhanced vagal tone.
Andersen et al. (1978) studied this question.