Regional anesthesia and pain medicine
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Reg Anesth Pain Med · May 1999
ReviewIntrathecal lipophilic opioids as adjuncts to surgical spinal anesthesia.
Lipophilic opioids, especially fentanyl and sufentanil, are increasingly being administered intrathecally as adjuncts to spinal anesthesia. This review analyzes the efficacy of these opioids for subarachnoid anesthesia. ⋯ The anesthesia-enhancing properties and side-effect profile of lipophilic opioids administered intrathecally suggest significant roles for these agents as adjuncts to spinal anesthesia for obstetric and outpatient procedures.