Alfentanil in minor gynaecological surgery: use with etomidate and a comparison with halothane

Abstract

Summary Etomidate was used to induce anasthesia in 50 healthy subjects undergoing minor gynaecological surgery who were randomly divided into two groups, one receiving aventanil 8 μg/kg intravenously immediately prior to induction of anasthesia with etomidate, and the other halothane as required to maintain adequate anasthesia. There was a highly significant reduction in the incidence of myoclonia and involuntary movement and significant reduction of pain on injection in the alfentanil group. Tests of recovery performed in the 60 minutes following anasthesia suggested that supplementation with alfentanil led to more rapid recovery than halothane.