Buprenorphine-supplemented anaesthesia. Influence of dose on duration of analgesia after cholecystectomy.

Fifty-one patients undergoing cholecystectomy received a single dose of buprenorphine 4.5-12 micrograms kg-1 at induction. Median duration of analgesia after surgery was 6 h. Multiple regression analysis showed the duration of analgesia to be slightly dependent on the age of the patient. No relationship was found between the duration of analgesia and the weight-related dose of buprenorphine, the age, sex or body weight of the patient, the duration of anaesthesia, or the dose of droperidol or thiopentone administered.