[Midazolam/fentanyl vs propofol/remifentanil in immediate postoperative with short-term mechanical ventilation]

Compare between 2sedoanalgesia regimes, the time from withdrawal of the medication until the patient wakes up and until extubation.

Observational study on pediatric patients after elective surgery that needed mechanical ventilation for a period maximum to 72hours. We compared 2independent groups of patients: group A: patients collected prospectively who received sedoanalgesia with propofof-remifentanil and group B: patients who received midazolam-fentanyl collected retrospectively by reviewing medical records and database of the unit. The main variables studied were: Age, weight, sex, interventions type, sedoanalgesia scales, drugs dosages, time from withdrawal of medication to awakening and extubation, and adverse effects.

We collected 82 patients, 43 in group A and 39 in group B. Age (arithmetical mean±standard deviation of patients were 49±65 months, weight 17±16kg. Mechanical ventilation time medium was 22hours (3-72), wake-up time from withdrawal after removing sedoanalgesia was of 11,8±10,6minutes group A and 137,3±45minutes group B (P<.001), extubation time after removing sedoanalgesia was of 24±21minutes group A and 230±102minutes group B (P<.001). Adverse effects were found in 10.5% of patients group A (7.9% agitation, 2.6% bradycardia), and 13% of patients group B (respiratrory depression after extubation), P=.572.

Patients treated with propofol-remifentanil have significantly shorter times to wake up, extubation and withdrawal from mechanical ventilation after stopping the medication. In the midazolam-fentanyl group, respiratory depression was more frequent, although the percentage of adverse effects were similar in both groups. Both the combination of propofol-remifentanil and midazolam-fentanyl appear to be effective as a sedative-analgesic regimen for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation after surgery.