Comparison of remifentanil versus fentanyl general anesthesia for short outpatient urologic procedures

Abstract

Study objectives. To compare the effect of remifentanil versus fentanyl isoflurane general anesthesia on Aldrete score, emergence, extubation and discharge times from the operating room (OR) and postanesthesia care unit (PACU) following short outpatient urologic procedures (panendoscopy and cystoscopy, bladder hydrodilatation, stent placement). Patients and methods. 40 patients 18 years of age or older scheduled for short elective outpatient urological procedures with an expected duration of less than 30 minutes.Following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and written informed consent, 40 American Society of Anesthesiologi-sts (ASA) physical class 1-3 adult outpatients were enrolled and equally (n=20) randomized into remifentanil and fentanyl groups. Preoperatively, all subjects received intravenous (IV) midazolam 1-2 mg and were induced with propofol 2 mg/kg IV. Muscle relaxation was achieved with succinylcholine or rocuronium, followed by intubation. The remifentanil group received remifentanil 1 g/kg IV at induction with a maintenance dose of remifentanil 0.1 to 2 g/kg/min IV in the presence of 60% nitrous oxide (N2O)/40% oxygen (O2) and end-tidal isoflurane of 0.3 to 0.4% (for amnesia). The fentanyl group received fentanyl 2 g/kg IV at induction, maintenance dose of fentanyl 2 to 3 g/kg IV intermittent bolus, and 60% N2O/40%O2 with 2% end-tidal isoflurane. Muscle relaxation was reversed at the end of anesthesia as needed. Times for OR entry, emergence, extubation, total OR time (entry to exit) and PACU discharge time, as well as Aldrete scores at time of OR exit and PACU discharge were determined. Data was evaluated by ANOVA, t-test and Mann-Whitney tests. A p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant.Results. There was no significant difference between groups in age, gender, weight, ASA class, PACU analgesic or antie-metic use, or times of emergence, extubation, OR exit and PACU discharge. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in OR exit Aldrete score but not PACU discharge Aldrete score. No adverse events were noted.Conclusions. While there was no difference between the remifentanil and fentanyl groups regarding recovery time from OR and PACU, remifentanil patients had significantly better OR exit Aldrete scores with less sedation upon arrival at phase I PACU recovery than the fentanyl group. This anesthesia technique may prove helpful for fast-track eligibility of these patients. &nbsp