[Low-concentration enflurane:study of anesthetic stability and quality of recovery].

The stability of anaesthesia and the quality of recovery obtained with low doses of enflurane were studied. Two groups of 20 patients operated for lumbar slipped disc were compared. The mean age and weight distribution of the two groups were not statistically different. Induction was the same in the two groups (diazepam, fentanyl, pancuronium and nitrous oxide). In one group, enflurane (0.4%) was added with controlled ventilation. Thiopentone was added if some spontaneous movements were observed, if arterial pressure and heart rate increased, and if the digital plethysmograph curve decreased. The quality of recovery was assessed by number-connection tests 1 and 2 h after the end of anaesthesia. Thiopentone was required five times in the group without enflurane, whilst it was never used in the group with enflurane. This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.01) and showed a more important stability of anaesthesia when enflurane (0.4%) was used. No statistically significant difference was found in the recovery scores between the two groups 1 and 2 h after the end of anaesthesia. It was proposed that low doses of enflurane were sufficient to increase the effects of the other anaesthetic drugs without any residual effect on recovery. Low doses of enflurane could be used during anaesthesia induced with fentanyl and diazepam, giving better stability during anaesthesia without any pernicious effects on recovery.