BACKGROUND The combination of propofol-remifentanil for procedural deep sedation in spontaneously breathing patients is characterized by the frequent incidence of side effects, especially respiratory depression. These side effects may be due to either the drug combination or the drug delivery technique. Target-controlled infusion (TCI) might optimize drug delivery. In this prospective, randomiz...

INTRODUCTION This double-blind, randomized, multicentre study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of remifentanil and fentanyl for intensive care unit (ICU) sedation and analgesia. METHODS Intubated cardiac, general postsurgical or medical patients (aged >/= 18 years), who were mechanically ventilated for 12-72 hours, received remifentanil (9 microgram/kg per hour; n = 77) or fen...

BACKGROUND Remifentanil enhances intraoperative hemodynamic stability, suggesting that it may decrease intraoperative blood loss when included as an adjuvant to general anesthesia. This retrospective study compared intraoperative blood loss during spinal surgery in patients administered either remifentanil or fentanyl as an opioid adjuvant. METHODS We reviewed clinical and surgical data from ...

BACKGROUND Normoxic and hypoxic ventilation are influenced by chemoreceptor and nonchemoreceptor drives. Although inhalational anesthetics blunt hypoxic ventilation, this effect is reversed by audiovisual stimulation but not by pain. Opioids reduce both normoxic and hypoxic ventilation, but their interaction with pain and audiovisual stimulation has not been fully reported. METHODS Isocapnic,...

BACKGROUND Target-controlled infusion (TCI) of propofol and remifentanil can provide satisfactory intubating conditions without a neuromuscular blocking agent. We compared the effect-site concentration of remifentanil required for intubation with the lightwand and the Macintosh laryngoscope during propofol TCI without a neuromuscular blocking agent in adult patients. METHODS Forty-nine patien...

BACKGROUND Intravenous administration of rocuronium induces intense pain in most patients (60-100%). This could be harmful during anesthesia induction because of the unintended reflex movement of an unconscious patient in response to the pain. Previous studies have reported that remifentanil effectively reduces rocuronium-induced pain and withdrawal movements. This study was designed to evaluat...

PURPOSE The present visual and electromyographic study was designed to evaluate muscle fasciculations caused by succinylcholine in adults pretreated with either remifentanil 1.5 microg/kg or saline. MATERIALS AND METHODS The effect of remifentanil on succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculations was studied using a double-blind method in 40 adults. After i.v. pretreatment with either remifent...

UNLABELLED We compared the recovery characteristics of remifentanil, desflurane, and sevoflurane when used for anesthesia in elective operative procedures. Sixty ASA physical status I and II patients, aged 18-65 yr, were randomly assigned to receive remifentanil-propofol, desflurane-N2O, or sevoflurane-N2O anesthesia. Before the induction of anesthesia, the patients of the desflurane and sevofl...

INTRODUCTION This randomised, open-label, observational, multicentre, parallel group study assessed the safety and efficacy of analgesia-based sedation using remifentanil in the neuro-intensive care unit. METHODS Patients aged 18-80 years admitted to the intensive care unit within the previous 24 hours, with acute brain injury or after neurosurgery, intubated, expected to require mechanical v...

INTRODUCTION Remifentanil has a rapid onset and short duration of action, predictable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile, and unlike fentanyl, does not accumulate with repeated or prolonged administration. This study evaluated predictors of remifentanil use in surgical patients with renal or hepatic impairment, or obesity in the United States who received remifentanil, fentanyl, or the com...