Sufentanil in anaesthesiology and intensive therapy.

Sufentanil, a potent α-1 agonistic opioid, was synthesized in mid-1970s. It was introduced into clinical practice ten years later, gaining some popularity over the last twenty years. A piperidine derivative, sufentanil has been reported to be 6-10 times more potent than fentanyl, depending on the route of administration; it has been registered for intravenous, epidural and subarachnoid administration.