The haemodynamic effects of bronchoscopy. Effect of pretreatment with fentanyl and alfentanil.

The cardiovascular responses to bronchoscopy under general anaesthesia were investigated in 36 premedicated patients. Twelve patients acting as controls received a standard intravenous anaesthetic of intermittent thiopentone and suxamethonium. A further 24 patients were given either fentanyl 6 micrograms/kg or alfentanil 18 micrograms/kg intravenously, one minute prior to induction. There were significant rises in systolic arterial blood pressure (p less than 0.05) and in rate pressure product (p less than 0.05) in the patients in the control group, but these changes were not seen in those patients receiving either fentanyl or alfentanil. However, dysrhythmias and ST segment changes indicative of myocardial ischaemia were present in some patients in all three groups.