Early extubation after cardiac surgery using combined intrathecal sufentanil and morphine

The records of 10 patients who had well-preserved respiratory and ventricular function and had received 50 micrograms of sufentanil and 0.5 mg of morphine intrathecally before induction of anesthesia for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were reviewed. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and no patient received intravenous narcotics intraoperatively. Postoperative analgesic requirements were low, with 7 of 10 patients requiring no supplemental analgesic during the first 12 hours. Early extubation (within 8 hours of arrival in the intensive care unit) was possible in 8 patients; two patients remained intubated for reasons unrelated to the anesthetic technique. No patient required naloxone, reintubation, or treatment for respiratory depression. Combined intrathecal sufentanil and morphine provided conditions that allowed successful early extubation in 8 of 10 of these selected cardiac surgery patients.