Study of sevoflurane/remifentanil coadministration on improving emergence and recovery characteristics of patients following general anaesthesia with sevoflurane

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of remifentanil infusion on emergence and recovery characteristics of patients with thoracoscopic lobectomy following general anaesthesia with sevoflurane. Methods: One hundred patients, who were aged 37 to 65 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status 1-2, and scheduled for elective thoracoscopic lobectomy under general anaesthesia in National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, from February 2016 to August 2016, were allocated to receive sevoflurane maintenance regimen(group S, n=50)or sevoflurane/remifentanil maintenance regimen(group SR, n=50)by random digital table. After routine induction and intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with 2% sevoflurane in group S and 1.5% sevoflurane/remifentanil(continuous intravenous injection at rate of 4 μg·kg(-1)·h(-1))coadministration in group SR respectively, with intermittent intravenous infusion of sulfentanil. Haemodynamic variables were collected at different time points and compared between two groups. Awaking time and extubation time, incidences of serious coughing and agitation were evaluated during emergence.Postoperative pain, nausea and cather-related bladder discomfort(CRBD)were evaluated in post anesthesia care unit. Results: Compared with group S, the arterial blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower in group SR at extubation(all P<0.05). Time to awaking and to extubation in group SR were (4.2±2.1) min and (4.8±3.1)min respectively, in group S were (12.7±3.4) min and (15.4±4.1)min.The difference between two groups were statistically significant (t=-15.040, 14.582, all P<0.05). The incidences of serious coughing and agitation in group S were 48% and 58%, which were greater than those of group SR(6% and 10%). The difference were statistically significant(χ(2)=20.294, 23.574, all P<0.05). The NRS and incidence of complaining CRBD were similar in both groups(all P>0.05). Conclusion: Compared with sevoflurane maintenence, coadministration of remifentanil and sevoflurane maintenance regimen provides better emergence and recovery which are characterized by faster awakening and extubation with a lower incidence of emergence coughing and agitation.