title: Remifentanil for sedation and analgesia in a preterm neonate with respiratory distress syndrome.
abstract: We present the efficacy and safety of the use of remifentanil for intubation, sedation and analgesia in a preterm infant during mechanical ventilation for respiratory distress syndrome. A 34-week-old baby, born by cesarean delivery that developed respiratory distress, required intubation and ventilatory support. For intubation, the baby was given midazolam (0.2 mg.kg(-1)) and remifentanil (1 microg.kg(-1)). The intubation conditions were assessed and classified as excellent. The remifentanil infusion was started at dose 0.75 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) and the dose adjustments were made depending on the neonatal infant pain scale (NIPS), hemodynamic and respiratory changes or the presence of spontaneous movements. Pulse oximetry, respiratory rate, ECG and invasive blood pressure were continuously monitored. He was given surfactant within 2.5 h of life after which ventilator parameters could be progressively decreased. Three hours later, the remifentanil infusion was decreased to 0.5 microg.kg(-1).min(-1), and he remained sedated (NIPS < 2). Six hour after surfactant administration, blood gases and chest X ray were normal. The remifentanil infusion was then discontinued and 30 min later the baby was awake and extubated with success. There were no side effects after intubation or during the continuous infusion. The profile of remifentanil allowing a rapid recovery, the absence of side effects and a good level of sedation and analgesia support the choice of this opioid for sedation in the NICU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Neonatology, LifeCenter Hospital, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. yerkesps@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Yerkes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pereira e Silva
authors.forename: Renato Santiago
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.forename: Rosilu Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Ana Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Simões e Silva
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007440:Intubation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077208:Remifentanil; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D008874:Midazolam