COMPARISON OF THE CARDIORESPIRATORY EFFECTS OF KETOROLAC AND ALFENTANIL DURING PROPOFOL ANAESTHESIA

The cardiorespiratory effects of a new nonopioid analgesic,ketorolac tromethamine, were compared with alfentanil as partof a balanced technique in which anaesthesia was maintainedby a constant infusion of propofol. Twenty patients were allocatedrandomly to receive a single dose of either ketorolac 30 mgor alfentanil 0.5 mg. The study medication was given duringthe anaesthetic when the rate of ventilation had been stable(±1 b.p.m.) for 5 min. Measurements of ventilatory rate,end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure, arterial oxygen saturation(Sa_O2), heart rate and systemic arterial pressure were madeat 1-min intervals for 15 min following the test drug. Patientshaving alfentanil developed significant decreases in ventilatoryrate, heart rate and mean arterial pressure. A significant increasein end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure occurred also.No changes occurred in any of the measured variables in theketorolac group. ^*Present address: Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh.