title: Effect of tramadol on depth of anaesthesia.
abstract: We have studied 51 patients who were anaesthetized with propofol and suxamethonium followed by 0.7% isoflurane and 66% nitrous oxide in oxygen to see if tramadol caused lightening of anaesthesia. A two-channel EEG was recorded and music was played via headphones. Two groups received tramadol 200 and 100 mg i.v. and the third group received saline. Tramadol caused significant, dose-dependent activation of the EEG, evidenced by increased frequencies and decreased amplitudes, but these changes were small and probably unimportant. Derived EEG variables did not approach values known to be associated with near-awakening during isoflurane anaesthesia. No patient moved on skin incision and there were no incidences of free recall.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Witwatersrand, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Coetzee
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Maritz
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: du Toit
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D015742:Propofol; D013390:Succinylcholine; D014147:Tramadol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D014147:Tramadol; D007530:Isoflurane; D013390:Succinylcholine; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D015742:Propofol