Remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia following cardiac surgery.

Background: Remifentanil is increasingly used as a component of cardiac anaesthesia. Following cardiac surgery remifentanil is often substituted for alternative opioids on the intensive care unit. We were interested to evaluate postoperative continuation of remifentanil in the form of remifentanil patient control analgesia (RPCA) for those patients who received intraoperative remifentanil. The objectives of this study were to assess the safety, efficacy and feasibility of the RPCA.

Methods: Ten patients who received an intravenous infusion of remifentanil perioperatively for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) had their remifentanil infusion converted to RPCA following extubation on the intensive care unit. Remifentanil patient control analgesia delivered an initial background infusion consistent with the infusion rate at extubation and with a bolus facility of 50 microg administered over 5 min followed by a 5-min lockout. Data collection included sedation and pain scores, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases, number of successful/unsuccessful attempts and the background infusion rate for each subject over a period of 12 h following extubation.

Results: The data from nine male and one female patient were analyzed by using SPSS11 for Windows. During the study period the patients achieved adequate pain control and made more RPCA attempts at lower background infusion rates. No episodes of apnoea, SpO(2) less than 95% or a rise in PaCO(2) greater than 6.5 kPa were observed.

Conclusion: Remifentanil patient control analgesia with a background infusion was effective and safe for postoperative pain relief in this group of spontaneously breathing ICU patients following cardiac surgery.