HEPATIC DISPOSITION OF METHOHEXITONE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY

In order to clarify the relative contribution of hepatic metabolismto the short term disposition of metho-hexitone, we have measuredhepatic blood flow during induction of anaesthesia with a 1.5-mgkg^–1 i. v. bolus dose of methohexitone. Median hepaticclearance was 1.01 litre min^–1 and hepatic extraction87%. As a consequence of the high hepatic extraction, the hepaticclearance of methohexitone was closely dependent on hepaticplasma flow. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1992; 69: 478–481)