Median effective concentration of remifentanil on target-controlled infusion for smooth emergence from aneasthesia and tracheal extubation in elderly patients
Objective:To determine the median effective concentration of remifentanil on targeted-controlled infusion(TCI) for smooth emergency from total intravenous aneasthesia and tracheal intubation in elderly patients. Methods:Twenty-four ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ grade fe-male elderly patients undergoing elective jaw cyst surgery were enrolled in this study. Median effective concentration(EC50) was de-termined by Dixon’s up-and-down method. During skin suture,effect-site TCI of remifentanil was titrated to initial concentration of 1 ng/ml for the first patient. If the extubation was defined as smooth extubation,the predetermined concentration for the subsequent patient was decreased by 0.5 ng/ml. If it was considered failed smooth extubation,the predetermined concentration was increased by 0.5 ng/ml for the next patient time. The EC50 of remifentanil was calculated by the Dixon’s up-and-down method and the EC50 and 95% confidence interval(CI) were analyzed using the probit teat in a logistic regression model. Mean arterial pressure(MAP) and heart rate(HR) were compared in patients with smooth extubation and without smooth extubation. Results:The EC50 of remifentanil for smooth emergency from aneasthesia and tracheal intubation in elderly patients was 0.94 ng/ml by the Dixon’s up-and-down method,the EC50 and 95%CI of remifentanil was 0.99 ng/ml(95%CI 0.52 ng/ml-1.51 ng/ml)by probit analysis respectively. MAP and HR were lower in patients with smooth extubation than in those with failed smooth extubation during tracheal extubation(P<0.05). Conclusion:Maintaining a remifentanil infusion at the optimal concentration of 0.94 ng/ml can suppress coughing associated with tra-cheal extubation and haemodynamic changes,almost without significantly delaying recovery from anaesthesia and thereby targeting smooth extubation for 50% of the elderly patients.