Skip to main content
. 2013 May 25;13:94. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-94

Table 3.

Side effects

  Placebo Alfentanil P value
Nausea
2.2 (1/45)
6.7 (3/45)
0.62
Vomiting
0.0 (0/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Dry mouth
2.2 (1/45)
0.0 (0/45)
1.00
Blurry vision
4.4 (2/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Dizziness
4.4 (2/45)
37.8 (17/45)
<0.001
Sleepy
0.0 (0/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Dyspnoeic
0.0 (0/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Sweating
0.0 (0/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Pressure sensation
0.0 (0/45)
2.2 (1/45)
1.00
Desaturation (SpO2 < 90%) *
8.1 (3/37)
44.4 (16/36)
<0.001
Desaturation >15 seconds (SpO2 < 90%)
8.1 (3/37)
19.4 (7/36)
0.19
Desaturation (SpO2 < 85%) #
2.7 (1/37)
16.7 (6/36)
0.06
Desaturation >15 seconds (SpO2 < 85%) #
0.0 (0/37)
0.0 (0/36)
1.00
Irregular heart rhythm
18.9 (7/37)
16.7 (6/36)
1.00
Systolic blood pressure at 5 minutes (20% decrease)
8.9 (4/45)
11.1 (5/45)
1.00
Diastolic blood pressure at 5 minutes (20% decrease)
20.0 (9/45)
15.6 (7/45)
0.78
Heart rate at 5 minutes (20% decrease) 4.4 (2/45) 0.0 (0/45) 0.49

This table shows the percentage of patients with different side effects for the placebo and alfentanil group.

* All > 15 sec and < 85% desaturations are also counted for this category.

# All < 85% saturations lasted 2–9 seconds, on average 4.2 seconds.