Barbiturates are used in treatment of brain oedema as a barbiturate coma and as a short term barbiturate in bolus repeated dose. Aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the effect of barbiturates on decreasing of mortality in children with intracranial hypertension of traumatic and non traumatic etiology. We evaluated group of 233 children, trauma 109, non trauma 124. Input criteria was extension reaction on pain stimuli. Intracranial pressure was measured in epidural way. Staircase therapeutical protocol was used, short term barbiturate Thiopental was use in periods of intracranial hypertension in repeated dose 1–2 mg/kg of b. w. Thiopental was used in 145 children, 74 children survived, it is 51 per cent. Count of 74 children is 31,7 per cent from the group of 233 children. Count of 74 children from the traumatic group (109 patients) was treated with Thiopental, 45 children survived. It is 41 per cent from the traumatic group. Study supports the idea of positive influence of short term barbiturate on mortality, this effect is higher in traumatic brain oedema.

        Key words: barbiturates – brain oedema – children – mortality