Effects of gallamine on spontaneous ventilation during general anaesthesia

An investigation was carried out to establish if the intravenous injection of gallamine triethiodide 40mg in an anaesthetized patient breathing spontaneously, was sufficient to depress ventilation as judged by a rise Pa co2. Fifty women undergoing minor gynaecological surgery were divided into two equal groups at random. One group received thiopentone, nitrous oxide, oxygen and trichlorethylene anaesthesia. The other group received in addition gallamine 40 mg. On examination of blood gases, no statistical difference could be demonstrated between the two groups. It was concluded that this practice does not depress spontaneous ventilation.(AU)