Comparison of the Respiratory and Circulatory Effects of Narcotic Antagonists

Obstetric Analgesia and Anaesthesia—The Current Scene

“…There iis still considerable debate regarding the efficiency of the narcotic antagonists in combating pethidine-induced neonatal depression. As the resultant of the interaction between narcotic and antagonist, wvhen both drugs are given directly to the adult suibject, remains to be finally elucidated (Foldes, Duncalf, Davidson, Yun and Schapira, 1964;Campbell, iMasson and Norris, 1965), it is hardly surprising that many clinicians are unconvinced of the value of the antagonist in obstetric practice. The present writer can only state his conviction that the way df safety lies with the invariable accompaniment of pethidine with levallorphan tartrate (Lorfan), in an 80: 1 ratio.…”

“…The observation that a consideralble proportion of the machines in current use deliver actually much less than 10% oxygen has greatly encouraged the popularity of a new technique. Cylinders containing a 50: 50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (Gale, Tunstall and Wilton-Davies, 1964) are now available, and their use by midwives has ibeen approved by the C.M.B. The latter body has also given its approval to the Lucy Baldwin gas and oxygen 'machine i (McAneny and Doughty, 1963), a modification of an older apparatus (the Walton Five).…”