[Comparison of vecuronium doses in general anesthesia administered with remifentanil or fentanyl].

BACKGROUND

It is recommended to minimize neuromuscular blocker administration during general anesthesia for the efficacy of operating room utilization and potential hazards of unintended awareness during anesthesia.

METHODS

We retrospectively compared the dose of vecuronium in consecutive 8,007 patients under general anesthesia receiving remifentanil or fentanyl. In analyzing electronic anesthesia records over 4 years in a single university institute, we also examined the type of general anesthesia and the required time of each pro- cedure in the operating room.

RESULTS

Less vecuronium was necessary in patients administered remifentanil than those given fentanyl both maintained with inhalational and intravenous anesthesia. Supplementation with epidural anesthesia did not influence the dose of vecuronium in patients under general anesthesia receiving remifentanil or fentanyl. We also measured the time necessary before extubating trachea after finishing surgery, while no difference was found between the patients recieving remifentanil and fentanyl.

CONCLUSIONS

Anesthesia with remifentanil reduces requirement of vecuronium dose greater than with fentanyl, while it does not affect the emergence time from anesthesia.