title: Patient-controlled postoperative analgesia with alfentanil. Adaptive, on-demand intravenous alfentanil or pethidine compared double-blind for postoperative pain.
abstract: A double-blind study comparing alfentanil and pethidine given intravenously by an adaptive, patient-controlled on-demand analgesic system is described. It was demonstrated that, despite its well-known rapid onset of effect, alfentanil took several hours to achieve good quality analgesia. Nevertheless, it had a much more predictable consumption pattern than pethidine. Alfentanil was associated with significantly less sedation during the postoperative period than pethidine, and was also associated with a significantly greater urine output during the 24-hour period of study. There was no evidence of tolerance or accumulation with either of the two drugs.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Welchew
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hosking
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015760:Alfentanil; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil; D008614:Meperidine; D005283:Fentanyl