Low dose sufentanil pretreatment. Effect on the induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone, methohexitone or midazolam.

The effects of pretreatment with varying doses of sufentanil on the subsequent induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone, methohexitone or midazolam were studied in 240 healthy patients. The induction dose requirements for the barbiturates were significantly reduced by sufentanil 5.0 micrograms (methohexitone p less than 0.05, thiopentone p less than 0.01). Excitatory effects following methohexitone were decreased (p less than 0.01) but brief respiratory depression was increased in both cases. Midazolam onset time was reduced, as was the frequency of failed induction, after sufentanil 5.0 micrograms (p less than 0.01).