Limited Usefulness of Alkaline Diuresis and Peritoneal Dialysis in Pentobarbital Intoxication

RECENT clinical studies have demonstrated that osmotic diuresis, with or without urinary alkalinization, will accelerate the renal excretion of drug in patients with barbiturate intoxication.1 2 3 4 5 When the intoxication is due to a long acting barbiturate — for example, phenobarbital — urinary excretion plays a major part in drug disposal. The augmented excretion achieved with this regimen is of sufficient magnitude to accelerate the fall in plasma barbiturate concentration and shorten the duration of coma.1 , 3 The claim that a similar beneficial effect can be obtained when coma is due to a short acting barbiturate such as pentobarbital or secobarbital is less . . .