Sodium thiopental is known to have a number of cardiovascular effects, but injection into the cardiopulmonary bypass reservoir has not been studied. The effect of sodium thiopental on mean arterial blood pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass was assessed in 150 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting. Sodium thiopental 3 mg · kg(-1) was administered via the cardiopulmonary bypass reservoir. Mean arterial pressure was recorded just before drug administration and at 15-sec intervals up to 120 sec afterwards. Compared to the baseline value, mean arterial pressure was significantly higher at 30, 45, 60, and 75 sec after drug administration, and it was significantly lower at 90, 105, and 120 sec. Sodium thiopental, in addition to its effects on myocardial tissue, acts initially as a potent vasopressor, and shortly after, as a potent vasodilator.