Protection against Barbiturate Anaesthesia Death in Rabbits

摘要

In rabbits given intravenous pentobarbitone sodium until apnoea or severe hypoventilation ensued, chest compression caused a reversible increase in minute ventilation with a resulting drop in arterial PCO2. The effect of this was most marked for the first 10 minutes, after which the animal became progressively less dependent on this reflex for respiration although still deeply anaesthetized. This reflex respiration appears to be independent of arterial PCO2 as well as the CO2 concentration in the inspired gas. Utilization of this reflex has greatly simplified the use of barbiturate anaesthesia in rabbits in our laboratory.