Alfentanil, a new, potent and very short-acting morphinomimetic for minor operative procedures. A pilot study.

A recently developed derivative of fentanyl, alfentanil, which showed an extremely short lived activity in pharmacological studies was evaluated in 57 female patients undergoing short gynaecological operations. Anaesthesia was induced with 0.05 mg/kg alfentanil, followed by an injection of etomidate. Virtually no respiratory depression was seen: all patients resumed normal spontaneous respiration within 7 minutes after the operation and naloxone was not given. Blood pressure and heart rate remained stable. No complications occurred during the procedure and serious side-effects were absent.