title: Comparison of remifentanil and fentanyl in anaesthesia for elective cardioversion.
abstract: This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was designed to compare the recovery characteristics of remifentanil and fentanyl in combination with propofol for direct current cardioversion. Patients undergoing elective cardioversion received either intravenous fentanyl 1 microg/kg (n=33) or remifentanil 0.25 microg/kg (n=30) and propofol was titrated to a Ramsay sedation score of 5 by slow intravenous injection. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures decreased significantly following sedation in both groups but did not show a significant difference between the groups. Time to answer a question (306 +/- 83 vs 383 +/- 131s, mean +/- SD, P=0.014) and time to sit up (412 +/- 90 vs 511 +/- 126s, P=0.002) were significantly shorter in the remifentanil group compared to the fentanyl group. Side-effects and patient discomfort were similar for both groups. Remifentanil can be used as a suitable supplement to propofol for direct current cardioversion and may provide a faster recovery profile than fentanyl.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maltepe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kocaayan
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ugurlu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akdeniz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guneri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004554:Electric Countershock; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines; D015742:Propofol; D000077208:Remifentanil
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil; D005283:Fentanyl; D015742:Propofol