A randomized double-blind comparison of fentanyl and sufentanil anaesthesia for coronary artery surgery

Using a randomized double-blind protocol the authors compared two narcotic anaesthetic regimens in 33 patients with good ventricular function undergoing coronary artery surgery. After premedication with morphine and scopolamine, patients received either fentanyl 100 micrograms X kg-1 (n = 16), or sufentanil 15 micrograms X kg-1 (n = 17), intravenously (IV) over 10 min to induce anaesthesia. Metocurine 0.42 mg X kg-1 provided muscle relaxation. No further IV anaesthetic agents were given. The haemodynamic response to induction, intubation, and surgery, differed minimally between agents. The degree of rigidity on induction was identical with both agents, as were the intervals following induction at which patients lost consciousness, regained consciousness, or met criteria for extubation. However, the interval until extubation criteria were met did correlate with the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass. Sufentanil 15 micrograms X kg-1, was clinically indistinguishable from fentanyl 100 micrograms X kg-1, when used as the primary anaesthetic agent for coronary surgery.