[30 years of neuroleptanalgesia--the current status]

Abstract

This paper describes the development of neuroleptanalgesia (NLA) during the last 30 years and discusses its suitable clinical use. NLA was introduced into anaesthesiology 30 years ago and takes up a strong position among today's possibilities to reach intraoperative analgesia. The development of a standard technique was important and necessary for spreading this form of general anaesthesia. Meanwhile a great number of methodic variations have been suggested, all of which, however, have to be compared very critically with the standard technique. Without a doubt, today and in the future sufficient analgesia must remain the central point of NLA if its advantages over traditional methods of general anaesthesia are to become evident.