Accidental epidural administration of a high dose of sufentanil.
Epidural sufentanil infusions are routinely used for post-operative analgesia after high-abdominal and thoracic surgery in our hospital. The erroneous administration of a bolus of 250 micrograms of sufentanil epidurally was followed by a 24 hour episode of deep analgesia and respiratory depression. The recovery from respiratory depression over a 27 hour period is described.
Van Hemelrijck
J
J
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals, Katholieke, Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Vandermeersch
E
E
Geeurickx
A
A
Van Aken
H
H
D000368:Aged; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D017409:Sufentanil
D000700:Analgesics; D017409:Sufentanil; D005283:Fentanyl