Ventilatory depression during and after infusion of alfentanil in man.
Sixteen fit young patients undergoing body surface surgery received an infusion of alfentanil 50 or 100 micrograms kg-1 h-1 to supplement nitrous oxide anaesthesia. The alfentanil infusion was continued for 2 h after operation at the slower rate of 20 micrograms kg-1 h-1. The intraoperative infusions provided satisfactory conditions for anaesthesia. The infusion after operation provided adequate analgesia at a cost of depression of carbon dioxide responsiveness to 50% of its value before operation, but only moderate effects on minute volume and PaCO2. Plasma alfentanil concentration during the postoperative infusion was 108 +/- 37 ng ml-1 (mean +/- SD).
D000328:Adult; D015760:Alfentanil; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010313:Partial Pressure; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D015760:Alfentanil; D005283:Fentanyl