Evaluation of analgesic and sedative effects of remifentanil‐based fast‐track anesthesia in children undergoing transthoracic device closure of ventricular septal defects

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic and sedative effects of remifentanil-based fast-track cardiac anesthesia in children undergoing transthoracic device closure of ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 children who underwent transthoracic device closure of VSDs from May 2019 to August 2019. The patients were divided into two groups based on the anesthesia methods: group F was given remifentanil-based fast-track cardiac anesthesia, and Group C was given conventional anesthesia. Patient-related clinical data, postoperative analgesia scores, and sedation scores were collected and analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in intraoperative hemodynamic changes, bispectral index values, postoperative analgesia scores, sedation scores, or the incidence of adverse events between the two groups. Compared with Group C, the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay in group F were significantly lower. Conclusion: Remifentanil-based fast-track anesthesia can be safely applied in children undergoing transthoracic device closure of VSDs, with acceptable postoperative analgesia and sedation effects and shorter mechanical ventilation times and ICU and hospital stays compared with conventional anesthesia. K E Y W O R D S analgesic, fast-track anesthesia, remifentanil, sedative, VSD 1 | BACKGROUND A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the most common cardiac malformations, accounting for 40% of all cardiac malformations. 1 Surgical repair and percutaneous device closure of VSDs are the two most commonly used methods in clinical practice. 2 In recent years, transthoracic device closure of VSDs without extracorporeal circulation, which is another possible treatment, has been widely used and reported in China. Transthoracic device closure of VSDs has the advantages of a small incision, rapid recovery, fewer complications,