THE USE OF DEHYDROBENZPERIDOL AND PHENOPERIDINE FOR REPEATED BURNS DRESSINGS: A Preliminary Communication

Abstract

Neuroleptanalgesia has been used to permit dressing of severe burns on 76 occasions in 24 patients. Dehydrobenzperidol 10 mg was given to all patients by intramuscular or intravenous injection and was followed by phenoperidine given intravenously in an initial dose of 1 mg followed by incremental doses of 0.5 to 1 mg. The procedure was successful in 70 instances and partially successful in 6. Respiratory depression was the principal side effect but was easily managed in this series. This method is considered to represent an advance over previous methods of analgesia for burns dressings.