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Intravenous

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Intravenous agents are used for the induction and less often the maintenance of anaesthesia. Examples include propofol and thiopentone sodium and more rarely, methohexitone sodium and ketamine.

They are all potent drugs producting anaesthesia in one arm-brain circulation time.

Intravenous anaesthesia is used in:

  • sedation in regional or local anaesthesia
  • for ambulatory surgery - more rapid recovery
  • where conventional anaethetics difficult:
    • field anaesthesia when lacking equipment for volatile anaesthesia
    • airway surgery or instrumentation when impossible to give a volatile agent
  • prevention of patient awareness during cardiopulmonary bypass
  • alternative to volatile agents

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