[The use of naloxone in neuroleptoanalgesia]

Naloxone was used in 20 patients divided into two series: series A consisted of 10 adults with an average age of 50.6 years (+/- 12.03) and series B 10 children with an average age of 8.5 years (+/- 5.16). Naloxone was given in the treatment of postoperative respiratory depression related to persistence of morphine impregnation, the patients having received either fentanyl (mean dose 0.04 mg/kg/h) or dextromoramide (mean dose 1.15 mg/kg/h). The mean dose of naloxone was 0.26 mg +/- 0.10, i.e. 3.9 microgram/kg in series A, and 0.13 mg +/- 0.11, i.e. 5.3 microgram/kg in series B. In both series, study of ventilatory function showed correction and stabilisation of the various parameters (F/min, Vt and V) up to 180 minutes after the injection. Recovery was rapid in both groups (7 to 10 min) and of good quality. Whilst it was accompanied in a number of cases by the recurrence of pain, the latter never required specific relief. The administration of naloxone was associated with an increase in heart rate (non-significant) at 10 min in series A and 30 min in series B. Apart an episode of nausea in one case of series A, no disagreeable side effects were observed.