title: [Remifentanil may be beneficial to urinary output under epidural-based general anesthesia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Remifentanil may be beneficial in patients undergoing abdominal surgery by promoting urinary output.
  
  
  METHODS
  258 patients undergoing abdominal surgery under epidural-based general anesthesia were assigned to remifentanil infusion at 0.05 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (Group R, n = 130) or saline (Group N, n = 128). General anesthesia was maintained with infusion of propofol (2 mg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)), vecuronium (60 microg x kg(-1) x hr(-1)) with nitrous oxide (66%), and 0.5% levobupivacaine epidural infusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient's demography and intraoperative conditions were comparable in both groups. Urinary output was larger in Group R (P < 0.0003), and infusion volume was smaller in Group R (P < 0.0003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remifentanil-based general anesthesia increased intraoperative urinary output. This phenomenon was observed under epidural anesthesia and under low-dose remifentanil infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Shunjukai Shiroyama Hospital, Habikino 583-0872.
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onaka
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077208:Remifentanil; D014556:Urine
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D010880:Piperidines; D000077208:Remifentanil