In this study, strong muscle relaxation of sodium thiopental and very brief sedative effects of this medication was the positive hypotheses to compare this medicine with ketofol. Although both combinations of KP and TF were found effective with no noteworthy complication. But, sodium thiopental offered more desirable post-sedation analgesia, reduced agitation and very transitory sedative effects.

This randomised double-blind study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of sodium thiopental-fentanyl (TF) with ketamine-propofol (KP) for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department.

The patients were subjected to receive either KP (47 patients) or TF (49 patients) for desired sedation level. A comparison of respiratory and haemodynamic issues, recovery agitation, patient and physician satisfaction, recall of painful procedure, nausea and vomiting were done.

The mean and SD scores patients' and physicians’ satisfaction performing the procedures in TF and KP groups were almost similar. Patient recalled was detected in 39 (79.59%) and 18 (38.29%) of patients in the TF and KP groups, respectively. About 2.1% and 8.1% in the KP and TF groups reported transient hypoxia.

It lead to 4.2% versus 8.1% airway manoeuvres being accomplished in KP and TF groups, without the requirement for endotracheal intubation or additional admission. A detail of the results has been mentioned in the following Table 1:

Table 1: Efficacy and adverse effects of Sodium thiopental–fentanyl and Ketamine–propofol groups