Propofol reduces perioperative remifentanil requirements in a synergistic manner: response surface modeling of perioperative remifentanil-propofol interactions.
BACKGROUND
Remifentanil is often combined with propofol for induction and maintenance of total intravenous anesthesia. The authors studied the effect of propofol on remifentanil requirements for suppression of responses to clinically relevant stimuli and evaluated this in relation to previously published data on propofol and alfentanil.


METHODS
With ethics committee approval and informed consent, 30 unpremedicated female patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I or II, aged 18-65 yr, scheduled to undergo lower abdominal surgery, were randomly assigned to receive a target-controlled infusion of propofol with constant target concentrations of 2, 4, or 6 microg/ml. The target concentration of remifentanil was changed in response to signs of inadequate anesthesia. Arterial blood samples for the determination of remifentanil and propofol concentrations were collected after blood-effect site equilibration. The presence or absence of responses to various perioperative stimuli were related to the propofol and remifentanil concentrations by response surface modeling or logistic regression, followed by regression analysis. Both additive and nonadditive interaction models were explored.


RESULTS
With blood propofol concentrations increasing from 2 to 7.3 microg/ml, the C(50) of remifentanil decreased from 3.8 ng/ml to 0 ng/ml for laryngoscopy, from 4.4 ng/ml to 1.2 ng/ml for intubation, and from 6.3 ng/ml to 0.4 ng/ml for intraabdominal surgery. With blood remifentanil concentrations increasing from 0 to 7 ng/ml, the C(50) of propofol for the return to consciousness decreased from 3.5 microg/ml to 0.6 microg/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Propofol reduces remifentanil requirements for suppression of responses to laryngoscopy, intubation, and intraabdominal surgical stimulation in a synergistic manner. In addition, remifentanil decreases propofol concentrations associated with the return of consciousness in a synergistic manner.
Mertens
Martijn J
MJ
Department of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. m.j.mertens@lumc.nl
Olofsen
Erik
E
Engbers
Frank H M
FH
Burm
Anton G L
AG
Bovill
James G
JG
Vuyk
Jaap
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000077208:Remifentanil
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D015742:Propofol