CJA
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a scholarly reply
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SPOEREL, W. E.
Right arrow Articles by CHAN, W. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by SPOEREL, W. E.
Right arrow Articles by CHAN, W. S.

Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 12, 622-633, Copyright © 1965 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Innovar in Surgical Anaesthesia

W. E. SPOEREL M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)1 and W. S. CHAN M.D.1

1 Department of Anaesthesia, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario

Innovar, a mixture of phentanyl and droperidol (0.02 mg./c.c. and 1 mg./c.c. respectively), was used to supplement nitrous oxide and other forms of anaesthesia. In contrast to the techniques of neuroleptanalgesia, small doses of thiopentone were used for induction and as a hypnotic when required. With this technique, the dosage of Innovar could be reduced, minimizing side-effects.

Innovar was given to 230 patients. In 24 it was used to provide sedation during regional anaesthesia; nine bronchoscopies were done using a combination of thiopentone, Innovar, and topical anaesthesia, with superior results.

The remaining 197 patients received Innovar to supplement nitrous-oxide anaesthesia. The dosages required were similar in curarized patients on controlled ventilation and patients breathing spontaneously. Innovar induced a marked slowing of the respiration, although most patients were able to maintain their alveolar ventilation by a corresponding increase in tidal volume; only a mild respiratory acidosis (average pCO2, 49 mm. Hg) was found in 10 patients after. an average of 165 minutes of anaesthesia.

Although the technique described lacked the flexibility of inhalation anaesthesia, certain advantages deserve further consideration. Among them, the possibility to intubate the patient without loss of reflexes and without relaxants, the lack of circulatory depression, the possible benefit of a mild adrenergic blockade, the rapid return of responsiveness, and the calm postoperative period with reduced drug requirements were particularly noticed. At the same time, the postoperative "neurolepsis" may require a closer supervision of the patient.

None of the three postoperative deaths in this series can be related to Innovar; however, one circulatory collapse occurred within the possible duration of action of droperidol.

Although the term "neuroleptanalgesia" describes the unique effect of this combination of drugs, the justification to apply the term to a technique of general anaesthesia is questioned. The use of Innovar within the framework of the present concept of anaesthesia has shown promising results and should be actively continued.

Note:

Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Anaesthetists' Society, Charlottetown, P.E.I., June 21–25, 1965






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1965 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.