Resp Care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Remifentanil improves breathing pattern and reduces inspiratory workload in tachypneic patients.
Properly titrated opiates decrease respiratory rate but do not affect tidal volume or induce respiratory acidosis. ⋯ Remifentanil improved respiratory pattern and decreased inspiratory muscles effort in patients with tachypnea or rapid shallow breathing, but did not affect oxygenation or sedation. Though the acid-base balance did not show clinically relevant changes on average, we cannot exclude the possibility that remifentanil might prolong weaning in hypercapnic patients. (Clinical-Trials.gov registration NCT00665119.)