Ataranalgesia - an intravenous anesthetic technique. Experience with 978 administrations

Ataranalgesia, an intravenous anesthetic technique, based on flunitrazepam and ketamine is described. Using balanced combinations of these drugs, with and without the addition of nitrous oxide and oxygen, this technique can cover a wide spectrum of anesthetic practice including pediatric and cardiovascular surgery. Over a period of six months, ataranalgesia with spontaneous respiration was used in 88% of all medium and minor gynecological procedures performed at our hospital for a total of 1194 anesthetics. Seventy percent of these anesthetics were given to outpatients. Cardiovascular stability was the most prominent feature of the technique. Heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (BP) increases were found to be inversely related to pre-operative values. Circulatory effects were not influenced by variation in premedicants.