A comparison of alfentanil and fentanyl in short operations with special reference to their duration of action and postoperative respiratory depression.
Ninety women undergoing short gynaecological operations were included in a double-blind comparison of fentanyl and alfentanil, a structurally related and very short-acting narcotic analgesic. Anaesthesia was induced by methohexitone followed by a double-blind injection of either alfentanil (0.5 mg/ml) or fentanyl (0.05 mg/ml). Depending on the expected duration of the procedure 3 or 5 ml of the analgesic was given. For the same duration of anaesthesia, respiratory depression had to be reversed in 11% of the alfentanil and 51% of the fentanyl group and the time of awakening was significantly shorter in the alfentanil group. Cardiovascular parameters remained stable with both analgesics. There were no troublesome side-effects.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015760:Alfentanil; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D000758:Anesthesia; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D015760:Alfentanil; D009270:Naloxone; D005283:Fentanyl