Abstract

Tramadol is 68% bioavailable after a single oral dose and 100% available when administered parenterally. Peak serum concentration is reached in about 2 hours after oral administration of Tramadol. After parenteral administration, the onset of action is within 20 minutes, and the peak effect is in 30 minutes. Fentanyl depresses the respiratory centers, and cough reflex, and constricts the pupils (miosis). Analgesic blood levels of Fentanyl may cause nausea and vomiting directly by stimulating the chemoreceptor trigger zone. The study was a prospective trial involving 90 patients of the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) grades 1-3, aged 18 to 60 years, who were posted for elective craniotomies. Approval from the hospital Ethics Committee was taken. A written and informed consent of the patient was obtained prior to the study. The study was designed to observe sedation up to 30 mins post-operative only by which time all patients were expected to be awake. But on the occasion of a single patient (in the Tramadol group) who remained sedated beyond 30 min, we followed up till the patient was awake and alert (45 min). We also found that in all three groups, there was no significant difference in the time required for obeying simple commands. The mean time required for obeying simple commands was 4.4 min, 4.33 min, and 4.0 min in group L, group F+L, and group T+L respectively

Description