Dtsch Arztebl Int
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Pupillometric Monitoring of Nociception in Cardiac Anesthesia.
High-dose opioids are conventionally used for cardiac anesthesia, but without monitoring of nociception. In non-cardiac surgical procedures the intra - operative dose of opioids can be individualized and reduced with pupillometric monitoring of the pupillary pain index (PPI; scale 1-9). A randomized controlled trial was carried out to explore whether pupillometry can be used for nociception monitoring in cardiac anesthesia and whether it leads to opioid reduction. ⋯ Pupillometry is appropriate for nociception monitoring in cardiac anesthesia. Thereby a considerable reduction of intraoperative opioids as well as increased intraoperative hemodynamic stability was achieved and postoperative opioid-induced hyperalgesia was prevented. The consistently low PPI scores, indicating adequate analgesia, suggest that further reduction of opioid doses is feasible.