Comparison of remifentanil and fentanyl regarding hemodynamic changes due to endotracheal intubation in preeclamptic parturient candidate for cesarean delivery.

Background: Intravenous opioids are administered to prevent and control hemodynamic changes due to endotracheal intubation. Except for special cases such as preeclampsia, these drugs are not recommended for parturants candidate for cesarean section because of the respiratory depression caused in the newborn.

Objectives: According to rapid metabolism of remifentanil, the current study aimed to compare hemodynamic changes in preeclamptic parturants who received remifentanil and fentanyl for cesarean section under general anesthesia.

Patients And Methods: This single blind randomized clinical trial was performed on preeclamptic pregnant women candidate for cesarean section under general anesthesia. They were divided into two groups. In the first group 0.05 μg/kg/min remifentanil was infused for 3 minutes before induction of anesthesia and in the second group 1ml (50 μg) fentanyl was injected before induction. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) before and after intubation and also Apgar index were measured and compared between the two groups.

Results: All hemodynamic variables increased after intubation in the fentanyl group (pSBP = 0.146, pDBP = 0.019, pHR < 0.001). Additionally, decrease in SBP (P = 0.018) and DBP (P = 0.955) and mild increase in HR (P = 0.069) after intubation in the remifentanil group was observed. No significant difference was found between Apgar indexes of the two groups (P = 0.771).

Conclusions: It can be postulated that remifentanil can be used in partituents candidate for cesarean delivery under general anesthesia to prevent severe increase in blood pressure and heart rate during tracheal intubation without adverse effects on newborn.