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SUMMARYThe technique of sequential analgesic anaesthesia, a new approach to balanced anaesthesia using fentanyl and pentazocine, is described. Elderly patients who were particularly at risk during orthopaedic surgery were studied and measurements made of blood pressure, pulse rate, central venous pressure, respiratory minute volume; arterial and venous Po2, Pco2 and pH were also measured. The results showed that good cardiovascular stability was achieved during the operation and in the postoperative period. Pentazocine reversed the respiratory depression produced by fentanyl and the patients were conscious and co-operative very soon after the operation. Excellent analgesia, on average lasting for 10 hours, was provided by the use of the two drugs. Side effects were infrequent and of no clinical importance. It was concluded that the technique of sequential analgesic anaesthesia was particularly useful for the elderly high-risk patients and that it could represent a valuable alternative anaesthetic technique for this group. |
