Barbiturate Protection From Cerebral Infarction in Primates

Abstract

Baboons were anesthetized with halothane or pentobarbital prior to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion to test the protective effect of barbiturates against stroke in primates. Significantly less infarction was found in animals that received 90 mg per kilogram pentobarbital or more than occurred in control animals. Because of cardiovascular and ventilatory complications at high doses of barbiturate, however, therapeutic trials to suppress stroke in the human must await further identification of an effective regimen which includes a safe barbiturate dose.