J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2010 Nov;48(5):429-433. 10.3340/jkns.2010.48.5.429.

Remifentanil-Propofol Sedation as an Ambulatory Anesthesia for Carpal Tunnel Release

• Lee JJ
• Hwang SM
• Jang JS
• Lim SY
• Heo DH
• Cho YJ

• KMID: 1453318
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2010.48.5.429

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This prospective study evaluated the use of continuous sedation using propofol and remifentanil when carpal tunnel release (CTR) was performed under local anesthesia.
METHODS
We sedated 60 patients undergoing CTR using local anesthesia with remifentanil at loading and continuous doses of 0.5 microg kg(-1) and 0.05 microg kg(-1)min(-1), respectively, and propofol, using a target controlled infusion (TCI) pump set to a target of 2 microg mL(-1) (group A), or with the same drug doses except that the continuous remifentanil dose was 0.07 microg kg(-1)min(-1) (group B) or 0.1 microg kg-1min-1 (group C).
RESULTS
In group B, the levels of pain when local anesthetics were administered (p = 0.001), intraoperative pain (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.001) were significantly lower than those of group A. Furthermore, the incidence of adverse events, including desaturation (p < 0.001) and vomiting (p = 0.043), was significantly lower in group B than in group C.
CONCLUSION
Continuous sedation using an appropriate dose of remifentanil and propofol can be used as safe, efficacious ambulatory anesthesia in cases of CTR under local anesthesia, performed using only 2 mL of local anesthetic, with a high degree of patient satisfaction.

Keyword

Carpal tunnel syndrome; Propofol; Remifentanil

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia
Anesthesia, Local
Anesthetics, Local
Anxiety
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Humans
Incidence
Patient Satisfaction
Piperidines
Propofol
Prospective Studies
Vomiting
Anesthetics, Local
Piperidines
Propofol