Sodium Amytal

A barbiturate derivative that activates GABA A receptors. When it is administered into cerebral vasculature during Wada test, it temporarily anesthetizes the perfused region, resulting in the isolation of the contralateral hemisphere, permitting assessment of cortical functions including language and memory. It blocks neuronal activity, and in conjunction with lidocaine, which blocks axonal activity, it is administered as a test injection in procedures such as spinal AVM embolization, or embolization of spinal tumors, prior to the injection of the embolic agent.

Wada test

Test injection prior to the embolization of the feeder vessel of AVM. In order to suppress both neuronal and axonal activity, Amytal injection is followed by xylocaine injection.