The Influence of Injected Thiopentone on Muscle Tissue.

Muscle biopsy was carried out in twelve dogs, 24 hours after the intramuscular injection of 5 per cent thiopentone. The specimens were examined histologically and in seven of the twelve animals foci of muscle necrosis were found. In a further two there were signs of acute inflammation Control biopsies from the opposite limbs did not reveal any comparable findings. It is suggested that the disadvantages of intramuscular thiopentone outweigh its marginal clinical value.