B Uğur1, M Oğurlu, S Yilmaz, V Kivrak. 1. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. drmustafaogurlu@yahoo.com
Abstract
AIM: This study attempted to determine an optimal dose of fentanyl, a drug frequently used in dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures, which is commonly performed as a brief outpatient intervention. METHODS: The optimal fentanyl dose was determined using Dixon's up-and-down method. The study was accomplished with a beginning fentanyl dose of 1 microg kg(-1) with a step size of 0.1 microg kg(-1) fentanyl. RESULTS: The ED50 [95% confidence interval (CI)] for fentanyl for successful anesthesia in D&C procedures was found to be 0.45 (0.35-0.55) microg kg(-1) and the ED95 value was 0.50 (0.45-0.60) microg kg(-1). CONCLUSION: This dose is considerably lower than the standard dose that is used at present, which is 1 microg kg(-1). To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to show that a significantly reduced dose of fentanyl can be as effective as higher doses in D&C procedures using Dixon's up-and-down method.
AIM: This study attempted to determine an optimal dose of fentanyl, a drug frequently used in dilation and curettage (D&C) procedures, which is commonly performed as a brief outpatient intervention. METHODS: The optimal fentanyl dose was determined using Dixon's up-and-down method. The study was accomplished with a beginning fentanyl dose of 1 microg kg(-1) with a step size of 0.1 microg kg(-1) fentanyl. RESULTS: The ED50 [95% confidence interval (CI)] for fentanyl for successful anesthesia in D&C procedures was found to be 0.45 (0.35-0.55) microg kg(-1) and the ED95 value was 0.50 (0.45-0.60) microg kg(-1). CONCLUSION: This dose is considerably lower than the standard dose that is used at present, which is 1 microg kg(-1). To the best of our knowledge, the current study is the first to show that a significantly reduced dose of fentanyl can be as effective as higher doses in D&C procedures using Dixon's up-and-down method.