Although RA accumulates in patients with moderate/severe renal impairment, pharmacokinetic modelling predicts that RA concentrations during a 9 microg kg(-1) h(-1) remifentanil infusion for up to 15 days would not exceed those reported in the present study, for which no associated prolongation of mu-opioid effects was observed.
Correspondence: Des Breen, des.breen@btinternet.com R21 CL cr = creatinine clearance; HR = heart rate; ICU = intensive care unit; MAP = mean arterial pressure; PI = Pain Intensity (scale); RR = respiratory rate; SAE = serious adverse event; SAPS = Simplified Acute Physiology Score; SAS = Sedation-Agitation Scale; SDT = scheduled down-titration.
AbstractIntroduction This open label, multicentre study was conducted to assess the times to offset of the pharmacodynamic effects and the safety of remifentanil in patients with varying degrees of renal impairment requiring intensive care. Methods A total of 40 patients, who were aged 18 years or older and had normal/mildly impaired renal function (estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 50 ml/min; n = 10) or moderate/severe renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min; n = 30), were entered into the study. Remifentanil was infused for up to 72 hours (initial rate 6-9 µg/kg per hour), with propofol administered if required, to achieve a target Sedation-Agitation Scale score of 2-4, with no or mild pain. Results There was no evidence of increased offset time with increased duration of exposure to remifentanil in either group. The time to offset of the effects of remifentanil (at 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours during scheduled down-titrations of the infusion) were more variable and were statistically significantly longer in the moderate/severe group than in the normal/mild group at 24 hours and 72 hours. These observed differences were not clinically significant (the difference in mean offset at 72 hours was only 16.5 min). Propofol consumption was lower with the remifentanil based technique than with hypnotic based sedative techniques. There were no statistically significant differences between the renal function groups in the incidence of adverse events, and no deaths were attributable to remifentanil use. Conclusion Remifentanil was well tolerated, and the offset of pharmacodynamic effects was not prolonged either as a result of renal dysfunction or prolonged infusion up to 72 hours.
To date, only two cases of malignant hyperthermia following isoflurane anaesthesia have been reported, neither of which were fatal. This case describes a very malignant form of hyperthermia after isoflurane, in which the laboratory values were grossly abnormal, and with multi-organ failure and death finally supervening.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.