fentanyl
Last reviewed 11/2020
Fentanyl is an opioid analgesic with a short duration of action. It is used as an analgesic to aid the induction or maintenance of general anaesthesia. It is also of value as a respiratory depressant for assisted ventilation.
Side effects include respiratory depression, especially in the presence of prior respiratory compromise and drugs having a similar effect.
It is cardiovascularly very stable and hence it has found a niche in cardiovascular surgery.