[Respiratory depression after diazepam-fentanyl anaesthesia (author's transl)].

105 patients were given diazepam-fentanyl anaesthesia and the respiratory values were studied spirometrically before the operation, after intramuscular premedication and postoperatively (i.e. after additional doses of diazepam during induction). The occurrence of respiratory depression which has been reported by some authors was confirmed. Blood gas analyses performed in 79 patients during the recovery period showed a significant improvement after the patients had been made to breathe deeply for five minutes. The results confirm the observations made in more than 12000 patients who had this type of anaesthesia that they must be kept under surveillance during the first 30-40 minutes in the recovery ward, but can then be returned to the ward.