Eltanolone for induction of anaesthesia and to supplement nitrous oxide for minor gynaecological surgery.

We have used eltanolone to induce anaesthesia and by intermittent injection to supplement nitrous oxide during maintenance in 50 patients undergoing minor gynaecological surgery; opioids were not used. Induction of anaesthesia was remarkably trouble free and achieved with a single dose of 0.5 mg.kg-1 in 90% of patients. Pain on injection was not a feature. Satisfactory anaesthesia was achieved in 84% of patients; eight required addition of isoflurane. There were minimal cardiovascular changes and apnoea on induction occurred in only one patient. Recovery times were acceptable.