The Effect of Intra-Arterial Injection of Etomidate and Thiopental on the Skeletal Muscle- and Arterial Wall-Structures

Abstract

In the clinic, the consequences of an accidental intra-arterial injection of thiopental are well known. They range from gangrene and ischaemic contracture of muscles in the severe cases to minor degrees of anaesthesia of digits in the more fortunate patient (KINMONTH and SHEPHARD, 1959). It is rather likely that these disturbances mainly result from direct arterial damage and thrombosis (COHEN, 1948a and 1948b; STONE and DONNELLY, 1961) since arterial vasoconstriction, if present, during or after the injection of thiopental is only temporary and arterial spasm has never been demonstrated (KINMONTH and SHEPHERD, 1959; BURN and HOBBS, 1959; BURN, 1960).