Why should I change my practice of anesthesia? Opioids.

The selection of opioid drugs for anesthesia is often based on empirical judgment such as the selection of opioids with rapid elimination half-life for short surgical procedures (e.g. alfentanil), while opioids with longer elimination half-life (e.g. fentanyl, sufentanil) are used for longer procedures. A better insight in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between opioids allows a more rational selection of the drug and its dosing scheme, and will contribute to rapid recovery after anesthesia. As opioids are adjuncts to other anesthetic drugs, drug interaction principles should be considered when titrating the opioid administration.