Effect of incremental and low dose remifentanil on acute postoperative pain in recovery room in shoulder surgeries

Abstract

There are few studies comparing postoperative remifentanil efficacy in treatment of acute postoperative pain. Considering prevalence of acute postoperative pain in shoulder surgeries, we aimed to evaluate advantages and disadvantages of remifentanil in comparison to routine analgesia method in recovery room. Method and Material: In this double-blinded controlled trial study 40 patients’ candidate for shoulder surgery enrolled and randomly assigned to study groups. At the end of operation and right after admission to recovery room, subsequent to pain score measurement, analgesia inducted in first group via routine method (morphine administration) and in the second group 20 ml/s remifentanil solution with 10 microgram per 20 second. In addition to pain score measurement in 5 minutes’ intervals, onset of the analgesia, duration of analgesia and side effects, recorded. Results: No significant difference observed in terms of demographic variables between groups. Duration of analgesia onset was significantly lower in remifentanil (P<0.0001). Pain scores were significantly lower in remifentanil group during 5th, 10th, 20th, 25th and 30th minutes, in addition, pain score change pattern was decreasing in group received remifentanil treatment (P<0.0001). In terms of side effects prevalence, nausea was more prevalent in patients received routine analgesia treatment (P:0.010).