General anesthesia with etomidate, alfentanil and droperidol for caesarean section

Seventy-two pregnant women, all of them admitted for caesarean section were given etomidate and succinylcholine for induction of anesthesia. Ventilation was done with N2O/O2. Once the baby was delivered, droperidol 5 mg was injected as an anti-emetic and alfentanil 50 micrograms/kg for analgesia. At the same time an alfentanil infusion was started at a rate of 1 microgram/kg/min. The combination of etomidate, N2O/O2 and a muscle relaxant was adequate in all patients until delivery. The alfentanil infusion of 1 microgram/kg/min. appeared to be sufficient in 82% of the patients. The remaining patients needed a temporary increase of the infusion rate, which was able to abolish all stress responses immediately. Cardiovascular parameters remained quite stable, except during the period in which no alfentanil was given. Recovery was fast, patients being alert within a few minutes after surgery. Postoperative vomiting occurred in 2 patients only.