Effect of Small-Dose Sufentanil: Target-Controlled Infusion Combined with General Anesthesia Using Propofol

Kim, Dong Hee; Hwang, Dong Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sufentanil has been shown to act synergistically when combined with propofol, or when combined with potent inhalation anesthetics. The aiml of this study was to determine the dosing rate and target plasma concentration of propofol in the presence of low concentrations and to determine the impact of sufentanil infusion.
METHODS
Sixty patients undergoing a plastic surgery and urologic surgery were anesthetized with nitrous oxide, and given a target-controlled infusion (TCI) of sufentanil [target plasma concentrations of 0 (group 1) and 0.05 ng/ml (group 2)], and propofol at rates varying according to the bispectal index (BIS). The mean target concentration (Tc) and infusion rate of propofol according to the changes in the sufentanil concentrations were determined. The recovery time (from stopping the infusion to eye opening) and side effects were compared.
RESULTS
The induction time and recovery time were shorter in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05). The infusion rate and mean target concentration of propofol were significantly lower in group 2 (148.8 +/- 25.2 microgram/kg/min, 4.1 +/- 0.8 microgram/ml) than in group 1 (161.7 +/- 26.9 microgram/kg/min, 4.7 +/- 0.5 microgram/ml) (P < 0.01). There were a similar number of side effects in the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The blood propofol and plasma sufentanil concentrations in the plastic surgery and urologic surgery patients, with respect to satisfactory intraoperative anesthetic conditions and speed of recovery, were 4.1 +/- 0.8 microgram/ml and 0.05 ng/ml.