Remifentanil pretreatment reduces myoclonus after etomidate.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare the effect of pretreatment with remifentanil 1 microg/kg and the effect of gender on the incidence of myoclonus after anesthesia induction with etomidate.


METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind study.


METHODS
The study was conducted at a university hospital.


METHODS
Sixty patients were pretreated in a randomized double-blinded fashion with remifentanil 1 microg/kg or placebo. Two minutes after remifentanil or placebo injection, etomidate 0.3 mg/kg was given.


METHODS
Myoclonus was recorded with a scale of 0 to 3. The grade of sedation (none, mild, moderate, severe), nausea, pruritus, and apnea were recorded after injection of both drugs.


RESULTS
The incidence of myoclonus was significantly lower in the remifentanil group (6.7%) than in the placebo group (70%) (P < 0.001). None of the patients experienced sedation, apnea, nausea, or pruritus after injection of both drugs. In the placebo group, male patients were associated with significantly increased incidence of myoclonus after etomidate administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with remifentanil 1 microg/kg reduced myoclonus after etomidate induction without side effects such as sedation, apnea, nausea, or pruritus. Men experience increased incidence of myoclonus than women after etomidate administration.
Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun 55139, Turkey. ebruk@omu.edu.tr
Ebru
E
Kelsaka
Deniz
D
Karakaya
Binnur
B
Sarihasan
Sibel
S
Baris
D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005045:Etomidate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077208:Remifentanil
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D005045:Etomidate