Forty patients who had undergone coronary artery graft surgery and who required vasodilator therapy for postoperative hypertension were given infusions of either alfentanil or morphine together with bolus doses of midazolam for sedation and analgesia while ventilation was controlled artificially. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was administered to both groups using a computer-controlled closed loop system which adjusted the infusion rate to maintain a preset target arterial pressure. Target pressure +/- 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm Hg was maintained longer in the group receiving alfentanil. This group also required less SNP per hour. No difference was noted between the groups in the time taken to regain spontaneous ventilation and to extubation of the trachea, although the alfentanil group tended to be sedated more deeply during the infusion. The main advantage of alfentanil over morphine at doses used in this study was its superior ability to attenuate hypertensive responses to noxious stimuli, providing improved haemodynamic stability.
SummaryForty-eight patients were randomised to receive sedation for outpatient dental surgery with midazolam. Sedation was given using the Verrill technique (24 patients) and the Glasgow Dental Hospital technique (24 patients). The diferences in recovery and patient acceptability were assessed. There was no statistical diference in mean recovery times between the two groups. Memory function was examined using the Warrington memory test. Fewer patients in the Verrill group recalled the injection of local anaesthetic but they demonstrated memory defects 4 hours after sedation for words and 3 hours for faces. The Glasgow Dental Hospital group demonstrated memory defects for words up to 2 hours following sedation, but not for faces at any time. Thirty-eight patients would have dental surgery again with similar sedation. The dental surgeon found conditions for surgery inadequate in two patients. In view of the shorter duration of amnesia we recommend the Glasgow Dental Hospital technique.
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