Influence of alcohol and tobacco use on sodium thiopental requirements in general anesthesia: a retrospective study of 700 patients.

Hospital charts of 700 patients who had undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery were reviewed to examine the relationship between alcohol abuse and dose of intravenous sodium thiopental (Pentothal) required to induce general anesthesia. Patients who required a high sodium thiopental dose (greater than 6.08 mg/kg) exhibited a higher incidence of alcoholism, heavy drinking, and heavy smoking, compared to patients who required low sodium thiopental dose (greater than 3.42 mg/kg and less than 4.75 mg/kg). Alcoholics and heavy drinkers, the majority of whom were heavy smokers, required a greater mean sodium thiopental dose than heavy smokers who were neither alcoholics nor heavy drinkers. Possible future research into the apparent cross tolerance between alcohol and sodium thiopental is discussed, particularly the possibility that the family physician may be able to use sodium thiopental dose requirement as a marker for early detection and diagnosis of alcoholism.