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Postoperative Ventilatory Response to Carbon Dioxide Following Neurolept Anaesthesia
Author(s) -
Hansen Vejlsted M.,
Jacobsen E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1977.tb01256.x
Subject(s) - medicine , premedication , anesthesia , pethidine , ventilation (architecture) , general anaesthesia , respiration , respiratory system , carbon dioxide , mechanical engineering , ecology , analgesic , biology , engineering , anatomy
In order to investigate the duration of respiratory depression following neurolept anaesthesia, 21 patients who had hemilaminectomia performed were subjected to ventilation‐carbon dioxide response tests by a rebreathing method in the postoperative period. Up to 3 1/2 h after start of anaesthesia all patients had a decreased ventilatory response to carbon dioxide. After this period some patients showed a normal respiratory response, while others remained depressed for up to 6 h, the period for which the investigation lasted. Most patients in the depressed group were premedicated with pethidine. We conclude that additional narcotics are contraindicated for a period of 3 1/2 h following the start of nerolept anaesthesia for surgical procedures lasting 1–2 h, while clinical control is still necessary before administration of additional narcotics within 6 h, especially if narcotics have been used as premedication.