Onset Time of Thiopental Versus Propofol in the Elderly

Onset Time of Thiopental Versus Propofol in the Elderly

This study is aimed at increasing the safety of the use of anaesthesia in an elderly population (> 60 years). Patients with decreased physiological reserve, including all elderly patients, have an increased risk of getting an erroneous induction bolus. This project will investigate how fast elderly patients (> 60 years) fall asleep during bolus induction of anaesthesia with two of the most used hypnotics, thiopental and propofol, evaluated with BIS-monitoring and clinical signs of anaesthetic depth. The hemodynamic response will also be evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Elective surgical patients above 60 years of age, with an indication of general anaesthesia during surgery.
• Informed consent.
• The patient must be legally competent.
• The patient must be able to read and understand Danish.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergic reactions to thiopental, propofol, lidocaine or alfentanil
• "Body Mass Index" (BMI) <18 and > 35.
• NYHA-class > 2.