Van Hemelrijck J, Vandermeersch E, Geeurickx A, Van Aken H
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospitals, Katholieke, Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
J Clin Anesth. 1989;1(4):289-91. doi: 10.1016/0952-8180(89)90029-9.
Epidural sufentanil infusions are routinely used for post-operative analgesia after high-abdominal and thoracic surgery in our hospital. The erroneous administration of a bolus of 250 micrograms of sufentanil epidurally was followed by a 24 hour episode of deep analgesia and respiratory depression. The recovery from respiratory depression over a 27 hour period is described.