Comparison of sufentanil-oxygen and fentanyl-oxygen anaesthesia for coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract

Haemodynamic variables were compared in 40 adults undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting during anaesthesia induced with either sufentanil 5 μg kg-1 or fentanyl 25 μg kg-1 in combination with pancuronium 0.1 mg kg-1. Further doses of sufentanil 2.5 μg kg-1 or fentanyl 12.5 fig kg-1 were given before skin incision and again before sternotomy. All patients were receiving β-adrenoceptor blocking therapy. Satisfactory induction of anaesthesia was produced with both drugs and opioid supplementation prevented any marked haemodynamic response to skin incision and to sternotomy. Following induction of anaesthesia, sufentanil produced the greater decrease in mean arterial pressure and left ventricular stroke work index which continued throughout the study. This suggests that, in the doses used in this study, sufentanil is preferable to fentanyl in patients with coronary artery disease. © 1988 British Journal of Anaesthesia.