Fentanyl-etomidate anesthesia for cardioversion

The effectiveness and safety of anesthesia with fentanyl and etomidate were evaluated in 44 patients undergoing elective cardioversion. No drop in blood pressure was observed; endotracheal intubation was never necessary, and ambu bag assisted ventilation was needed in only five patients. Anesthesia was induced within 7 min in all patients with a mean dose of0.9 mg of fentanyl and 15.4 mg of etomidate. After cardioversion, naloxone 0.2 mg intravenously was used to antagonize fentanyl; patients were fully awake on average 9 min after the last cardioversion discharge. Complete amnesia was observed in all patients, both 1 hour after cardioversion and the next morning. For cardioversion, fentanyl-etomidate is as safe, more effective and less time-consuming than diazepam.