Table 4

Adverse events during barbiturate coma

Adverse event
Thiopental (n = 22)
Pentobarbital (n = 22)
P

Hypotensiona
21
20
1
Respiratory infectionb
18
17
1
Urinary infectionc
0
2
0.49
Positive blood culture
4
1
0.34
ICP catheter colonization
7
5
0.5
CNS infection (CSF)d
3
0
0.23
SOFA pree
7 (4.5 to 9.5)
8.0 (5.5 to 9.0)
0.57
SOFA maximumf
11 (10 to 12)
11 (10 to 12)
0.94

aHypotension is defined as detection of a medium arterial blood pressure below 80 mmHg at any time during barbiturate coma. bRespiratory infection: presence of a positive sputum culture. cUrinary infection: presence of a positive urine culture. dCentral nervous system infection (CNS) infection (cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]): infection of the CNS with a positive culture in the CSF. eSOFA pre: value of the Sepsis related Organ-Failure Assessment (SOFA) score before the beginning of the barbiturate coma. fSOFA maximum: maximum value of the SOFA during the barbiturate coma, according the indication by Moreno and coworkers [16].

Pérez-Bárcena et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R112   doi:10.1186/cc6999