X-Message-Number: 1496
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 09:26:11 -0500
From: Ken Stone <>
Subject: Sedatives and Neural Ischemia.

Has anyone investigated the use of major sedatives to slow neural function 
immediately before clinical death?  

consider:

(1) The brain burns more oxygen than any other part of the body.
(2) Reduced neural activity has been shown to correspond to a significant
    reduction in oxygen consumption.
(3) Some sedatives significantly reduce neural activity.

I would imagine that a lot of ischemic damage during cool-down (and warm-up!)
could be avoided by infusing sodium pentothal (e.g.) into the blood before
cardio-vascular failure occurs.

Although the idea is not without its problems (complications with revival, 
added hassles from hostile coroners, etc.), I think the potential gains from
not having oxygen-starved neurons are pretty self-evident...

---Ken

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