[Blood gases analyses during short anaesthesia with fentanyl and etomidate (author's transl)]

Etomidate 0,3 mg/kg body weight and fentanyl 0,1 mg were given intravenously to two groups of patients--different by age--whilst spontanously breathing room-air. The effects on arterial blood pressure, heart rate and blood gases (arterial) were measured. In neither group did arterial blood pressure and heart rate changed appreciably but a significant fall of pO2 was found. There was only a small influence on acid-base-metabolism.