Adequate sevoflurane concentrations in inhalation induction of sevoflurane following administration of remifentanil.

Background: Currently, sevoflurane and remifentanil are utilized frequently for the inhalation induction of anesthesia. However, there is currently an insufficient amount of clinical data regarding the inhalation induction of sevoflurane after the administration of remifentanil.

Methods: 80 patients undergoing elective surgery were allocated randomly to four groups. Group A inhaled only sevoflurane at 8 vol%. Other groups were administered 3 ng/ml of remifentanil and inhaled sevoflurane at 8 vol% (group B) or 6 vol% (group C) or 4 vol% (group D). All groups also received 0.6 mg/kg of rocuronium. The blood pressure and heart rate were measured at pre-induction, and before and after tracheal intubation. After operation, the patients??levels of satisfaction with the inhalation induction were evaluated.

Results: The time to loss of consciousness was substantially longer in group D than in the other groups, but no significant differences were noted among the groups in terms of satisfaction scores. The HR in groups B, C and D increased significantly after pre-intubation as compared to baseline in group A. The HR decreased significantly during induction as compared to group A. The MAP in groups B, C and D decreased significantly at 1 and 2 minutes after tracheal intubation as compared to group A. In group D only, we noted no significant differences in the MAP as compared to baseline at 1, 2 minutes after tracheal intubation.

Conclusions: 4 vol% sevoflurane was a more appropriate concentration for the inhalation induction of anesthesia when coupled with 3 ng/ml of remifentanil.