Measurement of meperidine-induced respiratory depression using a new non-invasive technique

Inductive plethysmography was used to assess the magnitude and duration of respiratory depression caused by doses of meperidine commonly administered during dental intravenous sedation. Minute volume measurements exhibited a high degree of accuracy when compared to simultaneous spirometry. Intravenously administered meperidine 25 mg/70 kg and 50 mg/70 kg both caused a significant shift to the right in their respective ventilatory-pco(2) response curves. The magnitude and duration of this respiratory depression was dose related. Even relatively low doses of meperidine used in dental intravenous sedation cause respiratory depression.