title: Recovery from propofol anaesthesia supplemented with remifentanil.
abstract: We have examined the effects on recovery end-points of supplementation of a propofol-based anaesthetic with remifentanil. After induction of anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil 1.0 microg kg(-1), 15 patients each were randomly allocated to target plasma propofol concentrations of 2, 3, 4 or 5 microg ml(-1) for maintenance of anaesthesia. Remifentanil was administered by infusion for supplementation in doses required for maintenance of adequate anaesthesia. All patients received 50% nitrous oxide in oxygen and ventilation was controlled. The total amount of drugs used and times to different recovery end-points were recorded. Cognitive function was also assessed using a Mini-Mental State questionnaire. The median dose of remifentanil for maintenance of adequate anaesthesia (excluding the initial bolus dose) in the four groups was 0.21, 0.15, 0.11 and 0.13 microg kg(-1) min(-1) respectively (P=0.0026). The median times to eye opening and orientation were shortest in the 2 microg ml(-1) group [6.0 and 6.5 min, 8.5 and 10.8 min, 13.4 and 15.8 min, and 14.2 and 19.5 min respectively in the propofol 2, 3, 4, and 5 microg ml(-1) groups respectively (P<0.001)]. The times to discharge from the recovery ward and the Mini-Mental State scores were not significantly different.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine, The Queen's University of Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Mirakhur
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Breslin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003243:Consciousness / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D000077208:Remifentanil
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D015742:Propofol