Severe cardiovascular depression with remifentanil

• Published in: Anesthesia and analgesia Vol. 91; no. 1; pp. 58 - 61
• Main Authors: ELLIOTT, P, O'HARE, R, BILL, K. M, PHILLIPS, A. S, GIBSON, F. M, MIRAKHUR, R. K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott 01.07.2000
• Subjects: Anesthetics, Intravenous - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, Intravenous - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bradycardia - chemically induced; Coronary Artery Bypass; Depression, Chemical; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Hemodynamics - drug effects; Humans; Hypotension - chemically induced; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Piperidines - administration & dosage; Piperidines - adverse effects; Remifentanil; Toxicity: cardiovascular system; Human; Intravenous administration; Toxicity; Cardiovascular disease; General anesthesia; Opiates; Narcotic analgesic; Coronary heart disease; Remifentanil; Bolus injection; Aortocoronary; Bypass; Surgery; Hemodynamics
• ISSN: 0003-2999; 1526-7598
• DOI: 10.1097/00000539-200007000-00011

We compared the hemodynamic effects of a bolus administration of 1 microg/kg remifentanil for 1, 3, and 5 min (1, 0.33, and 0.2 microg. kg(-1). min(-1), respectively) in patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting anesthetized with small-dose propofol. The study was terminated after only eight patients had been enrolled (three received remifentanil at a rate of 1.0 microg. kg(-1). min(-1), two at 0.33 microg. kg(-1). min(-1), and three at 0.2 microg. kg(-1). min(-1)) because of severe hemodynamic instability, which was particularly marked in four patients and consisted of severe bradycardia in one patient and severe hypotension with a reduction in systemic vascular resistance in three others. One patient showed evidence of myocardial ischemia. All patients responded to therapeutic interventions. The results show that remifentanil should be given only by slow infusion to such patients. This study investigates the effect on the heart and blood vessels of various rates of administration of boluses of a relatively new potent opiate, remifentanil, to patients with coronary artery disease. The results show that remifentanil should be given only by slow infusion to such patients.