A double-blind comparison between fentanyl and buprenorphine in analgesic-supplemented anaesthesia

Abstract

Buprenorphine 0.3 mg or featnnyl 0.125 mg i.v. were used to supplement nitrous oxide anaesthesia in a double-blind investigation of 40 parients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Initially both narcotics appeared to suppress tachycardia and increased arterial pressure in response to surgery, but 80% of the patients who received fentanyl eventually required a further supplement of halothane O.5%, whereas no patient who received buprnorphine required halothane Recovery from anaesthesia was similar in both groups, but the duration of analgesia after operation was significantly greater after buprenorphine than after fentanyl. © 1980 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.