title: Continuous infusion of alfentanil for maintenance of anesthesia: comparison with halothane anesthesia.
abstract: This study compares anesthetic maintenance, hemodynamic stability, and speed of recovery obtained with inhalational halothane versus intravenous alfentanil anesthesia administered continuously. In two groups of patients, anesthesia was induced with sodium thiopental, maintained with 70% nitrous oxide in 30% oxygen, and either halothane (n = 10) or a continuous infusion of alfentanil (n = 10). The administration of the allocated anesthetic was adjusted according to strict predefined criteria of inadequate anesthesia. After endotracheal intubation, hemodynamics (heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure) changed less in the alfentanil group (P less than .01). Overall hemodynamic stability was the same in both groups. In neither group was there recall of intraoperative events. Recovery was assessed by the time from cessation of nitrous oxide administration to return of spontaneous ventilation, response to simple command, extubation, orientation, and discharge from the recovery area. The time taken to respond to simple command was significantly shorter in the alfentanil group (P less than .05), but other indices of recovery were similar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 22710.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Quill
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Reves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015760:Alfentanil; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015760:Alfentanil; D005283:Fentanyl; D006221:Halothane