[Analgesia and sedation in neurosurgical intensive care patients]

Different concepts for analgosedation of neurosurgical patients are recommended during postoperative ventilation. In 30 neurosurgical patients (2 groups of 15 patients), we studied a continuous i.v. application of alfentanil (Rapifen) and midazolam (Dormicum) compared to an application of continuously given alfentanil with discontinuously given midazolam. A good analgosedation (i.e. sufficient sedation with good neurological judgement) was more frequently achieved (8/15 patients) by continuous application of both substances (alfentanil 0.023 mg/kg b.w./h, midazolam 0.10 mg/kg b.w./h), compared to discontinuous application of midazolam (4.5/15 patients; alfentanil 0.028 mg/kg b.w./h, midazolam 0.13 mg/kg b.w./h). No differences in extubation times were observed. We conclude from our results that a continuous application of both substances is superior to a discontinuous application of midazolam with continuously given alfentanil. A lower dosage of each substance is necessary to maintain a better state of analgosedation.