Intravenous boluses of fentanyl, 1 μg kg-1, and remifentanil, 0.5 μg kg-1, give similar maximum ventilatory depression in awake volunteers.
BACKGROUND: /st>The relative respiratory effects of fentanyl and remifentanil, administered as i.v. bolus, have not previously been studied. We determined what remifentanil bolus dose gave the same maximum depression of ventilation as 1 µg kg(-1) of fentanyl. METHODS: /st>Twelve healthy volunteers rebreathed in a system designed to dampen variations in end-tidal carbon dioxide tension so that me
