Cardiovascular effects of neurolept anaesthesia in patients with coronary artery disease

An anaesthetic technique comprising a combination of phenoperidine (0.1 mg . kg-1), diazepam (0.06 mg . kg-1) and pancuronium bromide (0.1 mg . kg-1) with controlled ventilation was evaluated in 12 patients with severe coronary artery disease. The heart rate, cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure did not change significantly between the preinduction and postinduction measurements. The right atrial pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased significantly by 33% and 36%, respectively, probably due to the influence of positive-pressure ventilation. There was no depression of the left ventricular performance.