Effects of Different Doses of Remifentanil Infusion on Hemodynamics and Recovery in Children Undergoing Pediatric Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract

Objective The present study aimed to compare 2 different doses of remifentanil infusion on hemodynamics, recovery period, and complications in children undergoing diagnostic pediatric cardiac catheterization. Design A prospective study. Setting A university hospital. Participants Children undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization (n = 60). Interventions Children (2-12 years of age) scheduled for elective diagnostic cardiac catheterization under sedation were included in this study. The patients were ssigned randomly to 2 groups as follows: patients in group 1 (n = 30) received a remifentanil infusion of 0.1 μg/kg/min, and patients in group 2 (n = 30) received a remifentanil infusion of 0.2 μg/kg/min. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs), oxygen saturation (SpO <inf>2</inf>), respiratory rate (RR), sedation, and recovery scores were recorded. Measurements and Main Results There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of systolic and diastolic BPs, HR, SpO <inf>2</inf>, and RR during the study period. Additional drugs were required for 15 children in group 1; however, 27 patients maintained a satisfactory level of sedation with the 0.2-μg/kg/min remifentanil infusion. The time to achieve a recovery score of <5 was significantly shorter in group 2 than in group 1 (4.1 ± 0.3 minutes v 6.8 ± 0.8 minutes). No postoperative complications were reported in either group. Conclusion After oral midazolam premedication and local prilocaine infiltration, 0.2 μg/kg/min of remifentanil provided adequate sedation without any hemodynamic compromise during pediatric diagnostic cardiac catheterization. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.