Syndrome of depressed vital functions in the immediate post-operative period of surgical patients: some aspects of its pathogenesis.

Fifty adult male and female surgical patients (age 25--40 years) undergoing elective and emergency surgical procedures were subjected to isocapnoeic, hypocapnoeic and hypercapnoeic ventilation during anaesthesia; the PaCO2 ranged between 22--90 mm Hg. Three developed the syndrome of depressed vital functions in the post-surgical period by scoring less than 7 out of 10, the others recovered normally with complete resotration of reflex activity, consciousness and skeletomuscular tone, scoring on an average 8 out of 10 points. The role of muscle relaxant drugs in this syndrome and also the depression of the central nervous system is discussed.