Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Department of Pediatrics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Endotracheal intubation is a common procedure in neonatal care. The objective
of this study was to determine whether the premedication with remifentanil before intubation
has analgesic effects in newborn infants.
Methods: A total of 40 premature infants who needed endotracheal intubation for
intubation‑surfactant‑extubation method were randomly assigned in two groups of an
equal number at two university hospitals. The control group was given 10 µg/kg atropine
IV infusions in 1 min and then 2 ml normal saline. In the case group, the atropine was given
with the same method and then remifentanil was administered 2 µg/kg IV infusions in 2 min.
Findings: For remifentanil and control groups, the mean birth weight were 1761 ± 64
and 1447 ± 63 grams (P = 0.29), and the mean gestational ages were 31.69 ± 3.5 and
30.56 ± 2.8 weeks (P = 0.28),respectively. Using premature infant pain profile score, infants
who received remifentanil felt significantly less pain than the control group (15.1 ± 1.6 vs.
7.5 ± 1.4; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the duration of endotracheal
intubation procedure (20.8 ± 6 vs. 22.8 ± 7.3 s; P = 0.33), the number of attempts for
successful intubation and oxygen desaturation between groups.
Conclusion: Premedication with remifentanil has good analgesic effects for endotracheal
intubation in premature infants without significant derangements in mean blood pressure
and oxygen saturation.
Keywords
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