thiopental + propofol

Thiopental and propofol are intravenous anesthetic agents used for the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. Thiopental is a short-acting barbiturate that acts as a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA-A receptor, increasing the duration of chloride channel opening. Propofol is a phenol derivative that also acts on the GABA-A receptor but increases the frequency of channel opening and can directly activate the receptor at high concentrations. This specific combination/comparison was evaluated by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in a clinical study for patients undergoing cataract surgery to determine the effectiveness of thiopental induction followed by propofol maintenance versus propofol induction and maintenance, using Bispectral Index (BIS) monitoring to assess anesthesia depth.

Other names

thiopentalpropofolthiopental sodium