title: Remifentanil analgosedation in preterm newborns during mechanical ventilation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess efficacy of remifentanil in preterm newborns during mechanical ventilation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Remifentanil was administered by continuous intravenous infusion to provide analgesia and sedation in 48 preterm infants who developed respiratory distress and required mechanical ventilation. We examined the doses needed to provide adequate analgesia, extubation time after the discontinuation of opioid infusion, the presence of side effects and safety of the use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Remifentanil provided adequate analgesia, with a significant reduction of NIPS and COMFORT score since 1 h after starting the infusion of remifentanil. The drug was initially administered at a dose of 0.075 microg/kg/min, but in 73% of newborns the latter had to be increased; at a dose of 0.094 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- standard deviation) microg/kg/min, 97% of the newborns received adequate analgesia and sedation. The time elapsed between the discontinuation of remifentanil infusion and extubation was 36 +/- 12 min. Treatment was started between the 1st and the 17th day of life. The mean duration of therapy was 5.9 +/- 5.7 days. No side effects on the respiratory or cardiovascular system were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remifentanil is a manageable and effective opioid in the newborn undergoing mechanical ventilation, though randomized controlled trials and information about long-term outcomes are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Sacro Cuore Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannantonio
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sammartino
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cota
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fioretti
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papacci
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000628:therapy; D000077208:Remifentanil; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000628:therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil