[Remifentanil and eye surgery. A randomized, clinical comparison of propofol/remifentanil anesthesia and propofol/fentanyl/alfentanil anesthesia].

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate how many patients, after anesthesia with either propofol/remifentanil or propofol/fentanyl/alfentanil, within 20 minutes from the end of surgery could be transferred directly to the general ward. The number of undesired preoperative incidents, the anesthetists', the surgeons', and the patients' evaluations of the anesthesia were registered. An evaluation of the economic consequences of the two methods was also intended.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was clinically controlled, randomised, and partly blinded. A total of 80 patients undergoing eye surgery were recruited. The patients were scored 10, 15, and 20 minutes after the end of surgery according to a modified Aldrete score. With sufficient awakening score, the patients were transferred to the general ward.

RESULTS: Thirty-six patients in each group underwent the examination. In the propofol/remifentanil-group 31 (86%) could be transferred to the general ward compared to 15 (42%) in the proponol/fentanyl/alfentanil-group. In the propofol/remifentanil-group there were less reactions to the start of surgery, more episodes with preoperative hypotension and postoperative shivering. Otherwise there were no differences between the groups. It was estimated that the additional expenses for medcine were by far outweighed by the lower costs postoperatively.

DISCUSSION: With a propofol/remifentanil-anesthesia, the patients had a predictably short awakening time, so they could be transferred directly to the general ward. This may, especially in ambulatory surgery, mean cost savings and perhaps higher patient satisfaction.