British journal of anaesthesia
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Postoperative pain management and recovery after remifentanil-based anaesthesia with isoflurane or propofol for major abdominal surgery. Remifentanil Study Group.
We have assessed if recovery times after morphine or fentanyl, given before terminating remifentanil anaesthesia with isoflurane or propofol, are compromised. We studied patients undergoing elective, major abdominal surgery, allocated randomly to receive remifentanil and isoflurane (n = 277) or remifentanil and propofol (n = 274) anaesthesia. ⋯ Recovery was rapid and at an Aldrete score > or = 9 (median 12-15 min), 42-51% of patients reported none or mild pain. However, 26-35% of patients reported severe pain and > 90% required a second dose of opioid within 21-27 min after anaesthesia.