The effect of general anaesthetic agents on nerve conduction velocities.

Nerve conduction velocity has been studied in the ulnar nerve of human subjects before and during anaesthesia. No significant changes in velocity were observed following the administration of thiopentone, nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane in normal clinical quantities. A transient increase in nerve conduction velocity was noted following the administration of paralytic doses of gallamine triethiodide to subjects receiving nitrous oxide, oxygen and halothane anaesthesia in whom ventilation was controlled.