Impact of a remifentanil supply shortage on mechanical ventilation in a tertiary care hospital: a retrospective comparison.

Background: The continuous administration of opioids in critical care patients is a common therapy for the tolerance of mechanical ventilation. Opioid choice has a crucial impact on the length of mechanical ventilation. Owing to its very short context-sensitive half-life, remifentanil widens the available options for sedoanalgetic strategies.