Maternal and neonatal responses to alfentanil administered before induction of general anaesthesia for caesarean section.

The cardiovascular response to tracheal intubation was compared in two groups of patients undergoing elective Caesarean section. Both groups received a standard technique of general anaesthesia. One of the groups received alfentanil 10 micrograms kg-1 1 min before induction of anaesthesia, the other acted as a control group. In the alfentanil group there was a significant modification of the cardiovascular response to intubation as compared with the control group (P less than 0.01). No adverse effect on the neonate was seen. However, a significant increase in the incidence of postoperative nausea occurred in mothers in the alfentanil group (P less than 0.05).