Controlled ventilation in dental outpatients. Controlled ventilation with atracurium and alfentanil analgesia compared with halothane.

This study compares anaesthesia with controlled ventilation of the lungs with atracurium and alfentanil analgesia with halothane anaesthesia. Recovery time, the incidence of dysrhythmias and postoperative morbidity were evaluated. Anaesthesia with controlled ventilation was found to reduce significantly the incidence of cardiac dysrhythmias during dental surgery, and to produce a significantly more rapid recovery than halothane anaesthesia. The incidence of subjective postoperative complications is similar. It is concluded that controlled ventilation with atracurium and alfentanil is a suitable outpatient dental technique.