ABSTRACT
To compare the effects of esmolol and remifentanil, used as adjuncts for induced hypotension on surgical conditions and short-term cognitive functions, during tympanoplasty. The study was conducted in Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey between January 2005 and December 2006 following Institutional Ethical Committee approval, 40 ASA I-II patients, between 18 and 60 years of age were included in this study. With the induction of anesthesia, for group E, an esmolol infusion of 50-250 microg.kg[-1].min[-1] was titrated, following a bolus of 0.5 mg.kg[-1]; for group R, a remifentanil infusion of 0.2-0.5 microg.kg[-1].min[-1] was titrated; to achieve a mean blood pressure [BP] of 55-65 mm Hg. Arterial BP were recorded continuously throughout the operation. Mini Mental State Test [MMS] was performed at the preoperative 30th minute [MMS[60], postoperative 30th minute [MMS[30]], 60th minute [MMS[60]] and 24th hour [MMS[24]]. Surgical field was evaluated by the blinded surgeon, using a 6 point category scale. Patient demographics were similar in both groups. Sustained controlled hypotension was sufficient in all of the groups throughout surgery. Surgical field scores were lower in group R [P<0.05], although the scores were