BJA Advance Access originally published online on March 27, 2006
British Journal of Anaesthesia 2006 96(5):583-586; doi:10.1093/bja/ael075
Propofolalfentanil vs propofolremifentanil for posterior spinal fusion including wake-up test
1 Department of Anaesthesiology, Rasool-Akram Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Shafa-Yahyaeian Hospital, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Anaesthesiology, Imam Khomeini Medical Center, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding author. E-mail: farimani{at}iums.ac.ir
Background. Wake-up test can be used during posterior spinal fusion (PSF) to ensure that spinal function remains intact. This study aims at assessing the characteristics of the wake-up test during propofolalfentanil (PA) vs propofolremifentanil (PR) infusions for PSF surgery.
Methods. Sixty patients with scoliosis and candidates for PSF surgery were randomly allocated in either alfentanil (PA) or remifentanil (PR) group. After an i.v. bolus of alfentanil 30 µg kg1 in the PA group or remifentanil 1 µg kg1 in the PR group, anaesthesia was induced with thiopental and atracurium. During maintenance, opioid infusion consisted of alfentanil 1 µg kg1 min1 or remifentanil 0.2 µg kg1 min1, in the PA group and the PR group, respectively. All patients received propofol 50 µg kg1 min1. Atracurium was given to maintain the required surgical relaxation. At the surgeon's request, all infusions were discontinued. Patients were asked to move their hands and feet. Time from anaesthetic discontinuation to spontaneous ventilation (T1), and from then until movement of the hands and feet (T2), and its quality were recorded.
Results. The average T1 and T2 were significantly shorter in the PR group [3.6 (2.5) and 4.1 (2) min] than the PA group [6.1 (4) and 7.5 (4.5) min]. Quality of wake-up test, however, did not show significant difference between the two groups studied.
Conclusion. Wake-up test can be conducted faster with remifentanil compared with alfentanil infusion during PSF surgery.