Comparison of bolus remifentanil versus bolus fentanyl for induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation in patients with cardiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
Large bolus-dose remifentanil may be advantageous for use during induction of anesthesia because of its short duration of effect. Currently, there are little data on the use of large bolus-dose remifentanil because of reports of severe bradycardia and hypotension. The purpose of this study is to compare the hemodynamic effects of bolus remifentanil versus fentanyl with glycopyrrolate for induction of anesthesia in patients with heart disease.


METHODS
A randomized, double-blinded study.


METHODS
A tertiary-care academic medical center.


METHODS
One hundred patients for coronary artery bypass or valvular surgery.


METHODS
Subjects received either (1) remifentanil, 5 microg/kg, with glycopyrrolate, 0.2 mg, or (2) fentanyl, 20 microg/kg, with 0.2 mg of glycopyrrolate, and both groups also received midazolam, 70 microg/kg, for induction of anesthesia.


RESULTS
Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and cardiac output were similar between the 2 groups during induction of anesthesia and tracheal intubation. The incidence of adverse events such as bradycardia (remifentanil 10%, fentanyl 10%), hypotension (remifentanil 16%, fentanyl 10%), and ischemia (remifentanil 0%, fentanyl 2%) were also similar. A greater percentage of patients in the remifentanil group lost consciousness within 1 minute of opioid administration (86% v 66%, p = 0.034).


CONCLUSIONS
Remifentanil with glycopyrrolate is associated with rapid and predictable clinical anesthetic effect, cardiac stability, and the ability to blunt the hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation. Bolus remifentanil may be a feasible alternative to bolus fentanyl for induction of anesthesia in patients with heart disease because of its short duration of action and its ability to blunt the hemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation.
Joo
Hwan S
HS
Department of Anesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. hwanjoomd@yahoo.com
Salasidis
Gary C
GC
Kataoka
Mark T
MT
Mazer
C David
CD
Naik
Viren N
VN
Chen
Robert B
RB
Levene
Richard G
RG
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006024:Glycopyrrolate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077208:Remifentanil
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D005283:Fentanyl; D006024:Glycopyrrolate