High- and low-dose fentanyl anaesthesia: circulatory and plasma catecholamine responses during cholecystectomy

The cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects of a high-dose fentanyl anaesthesia (100 micrograms/kg body weight) were compared with those of a balanced type of fentanyl anaesthesia (5 micrograms kg-1) during upper abdominal surgery. High-dose fentanyl anaesthesia prevented the increase in catecholamine concentrations and attenuated the circulatory response to surgical stress seen in the group anaesthetized with the balanced technique of anaesthesia.