Anaesthesia for cardioversion: a comparison of diazepam, thiopentone and propanidid.

Three groups of 50 patients were anaesthetized with diazepam 0.32 mg/kg or thiopentone 3.7 mg/kg or propanidid 4.6 mg/kg for elective carfioversion. Propanidid caused more hypotension than diazepam or thiopentone. Apnoea was most frequent following thipentone and excitatory side-effects were most prominent following propanidid; the electric countershock worsened the excitatory phenomena. The success rate of conversion was higher in the diazepam group than in the other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. Diazepam failed to produce amnesia in about 33% of the patients. Thiopentone is suitable and pleasant for cardioversion. Diazepam is recommended in poor-risk patients and in emergency situations.