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Some cardiovascular and respiratory effects of four non-barbiturate anaesthetic agents were studied in the induction of anaesthesia in cardiac surgical patients in an attempt to achieve cardiovascular stability. The four agents, diazepam, ketamine, nitrous oxide and propanidid were given to four groups of patients with 20 in each group. Ketamine caused a rise in blood pressure while the other three agents caused a fall similar to thiopentone, most marked with propanidid and least with nitrous oxide. Ketamine caused a progressive tachycardia during the period of the study, propanidid caused a tachycardia similar to thiopentone while diazepam and nitrous oxide caused little change in heart rate. With the three intravenous agents there was a fall in PaO. Arterial carbon dioxide tension fell with propanidid, rose with ketamine and was unchanged with diazepam and nitrous oxide. The quality of narcosis, frequency of ventricular arrythmias and ease of intubation were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular and other abnormalities are described in ten patients with severe tetanus, with particular emphasis on cardiac output and related variables. The disturbances are attributed to pathological overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]