Key result
IV thiopental and diazepam impair postural stability vs saline, whereas methohexital induces no changes.
Why the study?
The utility of an instrumented force platform to measure residual effects of anesthetics and guide discharge after outpatient anesthesia was not established.
Do intravenous anesthetics (diazepam, methohexital, thiopental) impair postural stability and psychomotor performance compared to saline in healthy volunteers?
RCT (n=38)
Do intravenous anesthetics (diazepam, methohexital, thiopental) impair postural stability and psychomotor performance compared to saline in healthy volunteers?
p-value: p=<0.001
An instrumented force platform can detect residual balance disturbances from anesthetics like diazepam and thiopental longer than standard psychomotor tests, suggesting utility for outpatient discharge assessment.
Diazepam and thiopental may impair balance for hours post-dose; leaves open force-platform utility for outpatient discharge assessment.
Recovery from anesthesia was assessed in a controlled manner in 38 healthy student volunteers, using two psychomotor tests (perceptual speed and tapping board) and an instrumented force platform 1, 3, 5 and 7 h after intravenous injection of 0.3 mg/kg diazepam, 2.0 mg/kg methohexital, 6.0 mg/kg thiopental or saline. Postural stability remained unaltered but the performance on psychomotor tests improved when the tests were repeated after saline injection. Methohexital did not induce any changes in body sway or psychomotor performance at the time periods tested when compared with saline. Postural stability of subjects receiving thiopental or diazepam was imparied (P less than 0.001) for 1 and 7 hours after anesthesia, respectively, when compared with saline. The impairment on performance in the psychomotor tests induced by thiopental or diazepam was of smaller magnitude and for diazepam of shorter duration than balance disturbances measured with the body sway tests. Further clinical studies on the use of the instrumented force platform as a fast and easily interpretable guideline for discharge from hospital after different modes of outpatient anesthesia are warranted.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Korttila et al. (1981) conducted an RCT in Healthy volunteers (n=38). Diazepam, methohexital, or thiopental vs. Saline was evaluated on Postural stability and psychomotor performance (p=<0.001). Intravenous thiopental and diazepam significantly impaired postural stability for 1 and 7 hours, respectively, compared with saline (P<0.001), whereas methohexital induced no changes.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: