Respiratory Depression Following Spinal Fentanyl Anaesthesia for Total Knee Replacement: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

This case described profound respiratory depression in a-67-year-old woman 12 hour after spinal fentanyl 25 μg for total knee replacement on 13.09.2022. She had intravenous morphine 2.5 mg as post operative analgesia at 20:00 hour. Twelve hours after spinal fentanyl (22:00 hour), she got respiratory depression, type 2 respiratory failure reversed with naloxone. The effect lasted only 30 minutes; second dose of naloxone made no difference. Therefore, ventilatory support was initiated. At 20:00 hour 14.09.2022 (30 hours after initiation of spinal fentanyl 25 μg), both force of chest wall movement and respiratory rate were back to normal; she was completely normal at 44 hours after spinal fentanyl.