[Alfentanil combination anesthesia in adeno-tonsillectomy in children--a comparison with ethrane inhalation...

In two groups, each comprising 25 children undergoing adenotonsillectomy, two different methods of anaesthesia were used. Group I received ethrane inhalations, group II an alfentanil combination anaesthesia. The objective was to find out, whether or not the two methods differed in respect of haemodynamics, side-effects and practicability. In the patients of group II more haemodynamic stability, less ethrane consumption and faster postanaesthetic recovery was observed. The incidence of vomiting was equally low in both groups. Other side-effects ascribable to alfentanil, such as respiratory depression, chest rigidity and bradycardia, had no clinical significance. One may conclude from the results, that on account of the advantages described an alfentanil combination anaesthesia represents a true alternative to the routinely used "pure" inhalation anaesthesia in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.