Remifentanil

Abstract

Hypoxaemia, desaturation and apnoea: 2 case reports In a double center prospective observational study of 434 patients, who were scheduled for procedural sedation, 2 patients [ages and sexes not stated] were described, who developed hypoxaemia, desaturation or apnoea during treatment with remifentanil for procedural sedation and analgesia. The patients, who were scheduled for procedural sedation for transcatheter aortic valve implantation, received treatment with IV remifentanil via target controlled infusion (TCI) for procedural sedation and analgesia. In both the patients, remifentanil was started at the beginning of the procedure with an initial target of 2 ng/mL and then adjusted in stepwise increments of 0.5 ng/mL. Out of these 2 patients, the procedure was aborted in one patient with preoperative cognitive dysfunction due to agitation, hypoxaemia and abnormal movement. While the other patient with pulmonary cryotherapy, developed desaturation and apnoea secondary to the remifentanil therapy [times to reactions onsets and outcomes not stated]. The patient, who developed desaturation and apnoea, also experienced pain [aetiology unknown].