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Age Has No Effect on the Pharmacodynamics of Alfentanil

Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Effects of age on the pharmacodynamics of alfentanil, as a supplement to nitrous oxide anesthesia, were studied in younger (31–52 years; n = 14) and older (56–86 years; n = 14) women undergoing curative surgery for primary breast cancer. Plasma alfentanil concentration-effect curves for perioperative stimuli and for the probability of needing naloxone at the end of the operation were fitted by logistic regression. Effects of age on the plasma concentration-effect relation of alfentanil could not be demonstrated. However, the dose requirement in the older patient group was significantly lower than in the younger patient group.

Key Words: ANALGESICS—alfentanil. • ANESTHETICS—intravenous, alfentanil. • PHARMACODYNAMICS—age, alfentanil. • AGE FACTORSalfentanil pharmacokinetics.