Hypotensive anesthesia with esmolol. Assessment of hemodynamics, consumption of anesthetic drugs, and recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of esmolol added to propofol-remifentanil combination for hypotensive anesthesia on hemodynamic conditions, consumption of anesthetic drugs, and recovery, during elective septorhinoplasty. METHODS: This prospective, randomized study was carried out at Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey in 2005. Following Institutional Ethical Committee approval, 40 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I patients were divided into 2 equal groups group remifentanil infusion RP and group esmolol infusion (RP-E). After anesthesia induction with propofol (2-2.5 mg/kg), the mean arterial pressure was aimed to be between 50 mm Hg and 65 mm Hg for controlled hypotensive anesthesia in both groups. In group RP, a remifentanil infusion of 0.1-0.5 microg/kg/min was titrated, following a bolus of 1 microg/kg; for group RP-E, an esmolol infusion of 100-300 mg/kg/min was titrated, following a bolus of 500 microg/kg; to achieve a target blood pressure. In addition, propofol was infused according to depth of anesthesia to maintain anesthesia in both groups. Electrocardiography, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and consumption of anesthetic drugs were recorded. Postoperatively, recovery times, visual analog pain scores, and side effects were observed. RESULTS: The decrease in the intraoperative heart rate was more significant in group RP-E than in group RP. The remifentanil consumption was much lower in group RP-E. The recovery times were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of esmolol to propofol-remifentanil combination leads to a decrease in remifentanil consumption, without a decrease in cardiac output during hypotensive anesthesia.

Hemodynamic effects, recovery profiles, and costs of remifentanil-based anesthesia with propofol or desflurane for septorhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To compare hemodynamics, recovery profiles, postoperative side effects and costs of desflurane-remifentanil and propofol-remifentanil anesthesia for septorhinoplasty operations. METHODS: A prospective and randomized study was carried out at the Gazi University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey from April to September 2003. Forty patients undergoing septorhinoplasty operations were randomly allocated to receive desflurane-remifentanil (Group DES-REM) or total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) (Group TIVA). Anesthesia was induced in both groups with remifentanil 1 microg x ml (-1), propofol 2-2.5 mg.kg-1 and pancuronium 0.1 mg.kg-1. Maintenance was achieved with O2 50% in air at 4 L.min-1 and infusion of remifentanil 0.1 microg x ml (-1).min-1 in both groups. Group DES-REM received desflurane at 1 minimum alveolar concentration and Group TIVA received 10-4 mg.kg-1.hour-1 of propofol. Propofol infusion and desflurane were discontinued with the last surgical stitches, but remifentanil infusion continued in both groups until the nose was covered with plaster. Hemodynamic variables were recorded during the operation and one hour postoperatively in 5 min intervals. We recorded time of extubation, spontaneous eye opening and response to verbal commands times, visual analog scale pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting and Aldrete Recovery Score. Drug dosages and costs of each technique were determined. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to hemodynamic parameters, recovery profile, adverse effects, Aldrete Recovery Score and cost analysis. Visual analog scale at 5 min postoperatively was higher in group desflurane-remifentanil compared to group propofol-remifentanil (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both desflurane-remifentanil and TIVA provide perioperative hemodynamic stability, early and easy recovery with similar cost profiles for septorhinoplasty operations.