In our experience nitrous oxide-oxygen-morphine-curare anesthesia has proved preferable because of the need for swiftly awakening patients after instrumentation to ascertain neurologic status. Adjunctively, doxapram has been used to awaken patients in a predictably short time span. To prevent massive blood loss, hypotension has been attained by pentolinium, trimethaphan camsylate, and sodium nitroprusside.