Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 10, 380-389, Copyright © 1963 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Clinical Experience with Methoxyflurane (Penthrane®)

¹ Chief, Department of Anaesthesia, Grace Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Lecturer in Anaesthesia, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba

A series of 500 cases anaesthetized with methoxyflurane is presented.

It was found to be a useful agent in intra-abdominal surgery, particularly in the obese. The dosage of relaxant drugs could be considerably reduced, so that respiratory inadequacy postoperatively was minimized. Anticholinesterases were seldom necessary.

Postoperative respiratory complications were rare, and the incidence of nausea and vomiting was considered somewhat between that of ether and that of cyclopropane.

Postoperative analgesia was unpredictable, but valuable when it did occur.

In 70 tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy cases, restlessness was significantly diminished postoperatively. Care and patience are prerequisites for good results in these cases.

Muscular relaxation, peroperative analgesia, non-explosiveness, and probable compatibility with epinephrine are valuable properties of this drug. Doubt is expressed as to the compatibility of methoxyflurane and epinephrine in children.

Although cardiac rate, rhythm, and blood pressure are usually stable, methoxyflurane is a potential hypotensive (a) in deep anaesthesia, (b) in geriatric patients, and (c) during controlled ventilation.