Enflurane analgesia

An air-enflurane mixture was used for inhalation analgesia in conscious patients undergoing painful procedures such as burns dressings. A preliminary study indicated that enflurane possessed definite analgesic properties, but that the concentration of the air-enflurane mixture was critical if restlessness was to be avoided and cooperation retained. Further studies established that 1% enflurane in air provided good analgesia in the absence of anaesthesia. The analgesic effects were similar to those produced by 0.35% methoxyflurane in air, but were produced in a much shorter time (about 3 minutes compared with 9 to 10 minutes). Preoperative starvation was unnecessary and nausea and vomiting were absent. Details are given of the use of enflurane analgesia in 32 conscious burned patients who underwent 101 burns dressing procedures.