Infusions of minaxolone to supplement nitrous oxide-oxygen anaesthesia. A comparison with althesin.

In 19 patients, minaxolone citrate, a water-soluble steroid anaesthetic agent, has been used as a continuous infusion to supplement nitrous oxide anaesthesia. The minimum infusion rate (MIR) was found to be 11.3 micrograms kg-1 min-1 for patients premedicated with morphine 10 mg i.m. and breathing spontaneously 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen. The cardiovascular and respiratory effects were similar to those described in a previous study for Althesin administered under comparable conditions. Recovery from minaxolone was prolonged compared with Althesin, and this may be related both to the water-solubility of the drug, and to its greater apparent volume of distribution.