Abstract
Although the suppression of kidney function by anesthetics has been studied under various conditions there is yet considerable speculation involved in their selection when considered on this basis. Marx 1 has shown, in dogs, that higher dosages of amytal exert a strong anti-diuretic effect and cause retention of substances ordinarily excreted through the kidneys. The clinical observations of Emge and Hoffmann 2 indicate a suppression of diuresis for the 2 post-operative days following amytal. Bruger, Bourne and Dreyer 3 consider that kidney function is more depressed with avertin than with amytal. Kugel 4 and Bonsmann 5 have reported marked variations in the anti-diuretic effect of various hypnotics.
The work reported here is an attempt to compare the anti-diuretic influence of some common anesthetics under conditions which may have a bearing on their clinical usefulness. Normal dogs were maintained for several days on a regulated intake of food and water while the total 24 hour excretion of urine, urea, chloride and phosphate was ascertained. The excretion of phenolsulphonephthalein (1 cc. of 0.6% solution intramuscularly) and water (20 cc. per kg. by stomach tube) was determined each morning over a 2 hour period. The volumes of urine secreted in the afternoon and night were also noted. (For convenience in catheterizing, female dogs were used after making a posterior vaginal slit.) Approximately constant amounts of food and water, given in the late afternoon were so adjusted that the dogs consumed the full diet almost immediately. At about the middle of each period of days, anesthesia was instituted for one hour immediately following the morning administration of water and phenolsulphonephthalein. Satisfactory surgical anesthesia, with abolition of leg and abdominal muscle tone, was obtained with sodium isoamyl-ethyl barbiturate (32 to 40 mg.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.