[Postoperative fentanyl analgesia by the epidural route]

The analgesic action of fentanyl administered by epidural injection in a dose of 0.2 mg diluted in 10 ml of physiological saline proved to be satisfactory in 21 patients who had undergone abdominal surgery. The mean duration of analgesia was 6 hours. The subjective improvement was associated with an increase in V.C. (congruent to 30%) and good tolerance of postoperative chest physiotherapy. Despite the absence of respiratory depression, the existence of drowsiness is suggestive of central impregnation the degree and role of which remain to be defined.