Comparison of butorphanol with other anesthetic and analgesic agents
Quam, S.R.
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 81(12): 837-842
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-6151 PMID: 7129971 Document Number: 192795
Butorphanol is an analgesic with both agonist and narcotic antagonist properties. Its value as an anesthetic agent was compared with that of fentanyl, meperidine and enflurane in 120 healthy women undergoing pelvic surgery. Subsequently, butorphanol was compared with meperidine for adequacy of pain relief postoperatively. Butorphanol gave adequate analgesia intraoperatively and good postoperative analgesia in moderate to severe pain. Stability of blood pressure and pulse were similar in all anesthetic agents. Slight respiratory depression was noted in 17% of patients given butorphanol intraoperatively, but it was not increased with increased dosages. Butorphanol caused less nausea and emesis than the other agents. The chief side effect of butorphanol when used for postoperative analgesia was drowsiness, observed in 20% of subjects.