PERINEURAL PETHIDINE - EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT DOSES ON NERVE-CONDUCTION

Forty healthy young volunteers were divided randomly into four equal g roups. 2 ml of solutions of pethidine (meperidine) in concentrations o f 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% were given to three groups of 10 subjects: a fourt h group received saline. Sensory evoked responses obtained via surface electrodes from both sural nerves simultaneously in the pethidine gro ups and unilaterally in the control group, were evaluated for latency, conduction velocity and amplitude. Sensory changes at the innervation zone were monitored by means of a pinprick. All recordings were obtai ned prior to injection and at 5 min intervals for 30 min. Concentratio ns of 1% and 1.5% pethidine were associated with significantly lower a mplitudes and with hypoalgesia. Other parameters did not change.