Conclusion

Summing up the consequences of this presentation, etomidate remains the safest drug for cardiac risk-cases, and it is reasonable to restrict emergency medicine hypnotics to etomidate. From emergency medicine slowly emerges a technique relying on maintained breathing for short procedures. The question remains, if etomidate should be combined with another drug for that purpose, i.e. which combination augments the effects and simultaneously reduces, rather than increases adverse effects.

Particular Indications for Etomidate: Anaesthesia by

• Heart disease
• Circulatory failure, shock
• Asthma, allergy, conditions with histamine release
• Maintained breathing techniques
• Emergency medicine (pre- and in-hospital)

Having realized that there are still fields where the unique effects makes etomidate superior to other drugs, the anaesthetist should not forget to get some experience with it in non-acute cases before suddenly using it for high-risk patients.