Comparison of infusions of alfentanil or pethidine for sedation of ventilated patients on the ITU

Abstract

Sedation was studied in 30 patients requiring overnight ventilation in the intensive therapy unit (ITU). Patients received an infusion of either alfentanil or pethidine, supplemented with midazolam. The infusion rates were adjusted to provide optimal sedation as judged by a nurse, and measurements were made of quality of sedation, recovery and serum cortisol concentration. In addition, blood concentrations of alfentanil were measured to permit pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analysis. Satisfactory sedation was achieved in both groups. The required infusion rate for alfentanil was between 0.4 and 0.5 μ kg-1 min-1. Recovery was good in both groups, apart from one patient in the alfentanil group, in whom recovery was greatly prolonged and alfentanil pharmacokinetics were abnormal. A difference was found in the metabolic response to surgery between the two groups, the response in the alfentanil group being significantly less marked. © 1986 British Journal of Anaesthesia.