ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is no reports on influence of intraoperative fentanyl and remifentanil infusion on ability of oral intake after short stay surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively on 497 patients undergoing short stay surgery under general anesthesia with intraoperative remifentanil infusion (R group, n = 273) or without intraoperative remifentanil infusion (NR group, n = 224). The amount of fentanyl used and percentage of patients unable to eat supper were compared. RESULTS: Amount of fentanyl used in patients unable to eat supper were significantly higher than in patients able to eat supper in both NR and R groups. There is no difference in the percentage of patients unable to take supper between group NR and R. Total amount of fentanyl used was significantly lower in group R than in group NR. CONCLUSIONS: With or without the use of remifentanil, greater the amount of fentanyl used, greater the percentage of patients unable to eat. Amount of fentanyl used in R group was significantly less than in group NR; however the difference in percentage of patients unable to eat supper was not observed.
