Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 13, 263-271, Copyright © 1966 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Neuroleptanalgesia with Fentanyl-Droperidol: An Appreciation based on more than 1000 Anaesthetics for Major Surgery

1. The three-year experience with neuroleptanalgesia in a large teaching hospital is reviewed, and the records of the first thousand such anaesthetics are analysed in detail. The use of this anaesthetic in the supplementation of nitrousoxide-relaxant anaesthesia is described.

2. In patients such as those studied, NLA appears to have certain quantitative advantages over other agents: better circulation during surgery, reduced incidence of postanaesthetic nausea and vomiting, and good patient acceptance. More significantly, the anaesthetic is qualitatively different from other agents in that it makes prolonged postanaesthetic respiratory assistance without tracheotomy feasible.

3. These characteristics amount to specific indication for NLA in certain patients, particularly when major surgery is contemplated. The indications, and some contraindications, are reviewed.

Note:

The authors are on the staff of Notre-Dame Hospital, Montréal. Drs. Charette and Keeri-Szanto are members of the Departments of Surgery and Anaesthesia respectively, Université de Montréal. The results were presented in part by the senior author (M. K-Sz.) at the Third World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, So Paulo, Brazil, September, 1964. The neuroleptanalgesic mixture (droperidol 2.5 mg. + fentanyl 0.05 mg. per ml., INNOVAR) has been kindly Furnished by Dr. E. C. Hessert of McNeil Laboratories Inc., Ft. Washington, Pa.