Stepwise tapering of remifentanil at the end of surgery decreased postoperative pain and the need of rescue analgesics after thyroidectomy

Abstract

Background: This study was designed to investigate whether stepwise tapering of remifentanil at the end of surgery could decrease postoperative pain scores and requirements of rescue analgesics after remifentanil-desflurane anesthesia in patients with thyroidectomy. Methods: Sixty two patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups. All patients were anesthetised with desflurane and high-dose remifentanil. Remifentnail was infused at the rate of 0.3μg/kg/min until the end of surgery in patients of the control group (group A) whereas remifentanil was tapered gradually from 0.3 to 0.1μg/kg/min until the end of surgery for at least 30minutes in patients with group B. Pain scores (0-100 numerical rating scale, NRS), rescue analgesic requirements and adverse events were assessed at 30min, 2h, 6h, 12h, and 24h after operation. Results: There was a significant decrease in pain scores at 30min (20 [0-80] vs. 50 [0-100], P=0.002) and 2h (30 [10-60] vs. 40 [20-80], P=0.018) after surgery in group B compared with group A. In addition, rescue analgesics are less required in group B than in group A postoperatively (2 [1-3] vs. 3 [2,3], P=0.039). There were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. Conclusions: Tapering of remifentanil at the end of surgery decreased postoperative pain scores immediately after thyroidectomy with desflurane and high-dose remifentanil anesthesia.