Comparison of nalbuphine and fentanyl anesthesia for coronary artery bypass surgery. Hemodynamics, hormonal response, and postoperative respiratory depression.

To determine whether nalbuphine might replace fentanyl as the principal opioid for anesthesia during coronary artery bypass surgery, 20 patients undergoing myocardial revascularization were anesthetized with flunitrazepam and with a continuous infusion of either nalbuphine (an opioid agonist-antagonist) or fentanyl (a pure opioid agonist) in equipotent dosage ratio of 333:1. During endotracheal intubation, all patients given nalbuphine, but only one given fentanyl (P less than 0.05), required nitroglycerin to control arterial blood pressure.

Complications during and following radial artery cannulation: a prospective study.

One hundred and eighteen 20-g radial artery catheters were prospectively evaluated in 109 cardiovascular surgical patients. 0.024% papaverine in saline was used as a continuous flushing solution.

Use of pancuronium in children with congenital heart disease.

Dosage of pancuronium required to produce 90% neuromuscular blockade, time of onset of action of pancuronium and changes in heart rate and arterial pressure were evaluated in 30 children with congenital cardiovascular disease during intravenous anesthesia. Neuromuscular blockade was measured using train-of-four stimulation (2 Hz for 2 seconds) and twitch count. The 90% blockade was defined as being one twitch felt on the stretched abducted thumb.