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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