Effectiveness of high dose remifentanil in preventing coughing and laryngospasm in non-paralyzed patients for advanced bronchoscopic procedures

Safe Sedation and Analgesia Management With Remifentanil in Pediatric ICU Patients: A Report of Two Cases

Although remifentanil (RF) is not approved for use in the ICU for children, its short half-life and titratability may provide advantages in children requiring high doses of sedatives and analgesics during prolonged mechanical ventilation. This report presents two pediatric cases in which RF was administered for sedation and analgesia, enabling successful extubation without adverse effects. In Case 1, a four-year-old girl with multiple atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors required mechanical ventilation due to impaired consciousness. RF was initiated at 0.22 μg/kg/min and titrated up to 0.48 μg/kg/min on the day before extubation, allowing the reduction of other sedatives. She received RF for a total of 16 hours (5.66 mg) before it was discontinued, and extubation was successfully performed 70 minutes later. In Case 2, a three-year-old girl with a severe neck abscess required prolonged intubation following surgical drainage. RF was started at 0.1 μg/kg/min and increased to 0.2 μg/kg/min on the day before extubation, facilitating the tapering of other sedatives. She received RF for a total of 23 hours (4.4 mg) before discontinuation, and extubation was successfully performed 25 minutes later. Throughout RF administration, hemodynamic stability was maintained, with no occurrences of hypotension, bradycardia, desaturation, hepatic or renal dysfunction, muscle rigidity, or hyperalgesia. No additional catecholamines were required, and no signs of withdrawal symptoms were observed. These findings suggest that RF may be a safe and effective option for sedation and analgesia in pediatric patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Inhibition of stress and spontaneous respiration: Efficacy and safety of monitored anesthesia care by target-controlled infusion remifentanil in combination with dexmedetomidine in fibreoptic bronchoscopy for patients with severe tracheal stenosis

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effective concentration of target-controlled infusion (TCI) of remifentanil used to inhibit stress during the treatment of severe tracheal stenosis with fibreoptic bronchoscopy and to evaluate the monitored anesthesia care (MAC) by remifentanil.

Materials and methods

60 patients with severe tracheal stenosis who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy was performed. Dexmedetomidine was initially administered at a bolus dose (0.8 mcg/kg), followed by a 0.5 mcg/(kg⋅h) continuous infusion. Remifentanil was administered by TCI. The effective concentration (EC) of remifentanil was titrated by the improved sequential method, and 30 patients were included. The EC95 of remifentanil was set as the plasma target concentration to evaluate the safety of the MAC, and another 30 patients were included.

Results

The half effective effect-chamber concentration of remifentanil (EC50) was 2.243 ng/ml, and the EC95 was 2.710 ng/ml. Among the 30 patients who received an EC95 of remifentanil as the target concentration, one patient was remedied by injecting propofol, the score of Ramsay sedation was three. The incidence of subclinical hypoxemia (SPO2 of 90-95%) was 30%, the incidence of moderate hypoxemia (SPO2 of 75-89%, ≤60 s) was 20 and 86.7% of patients with oxygen saturation was less than 95% returned to normal by awakening. The satisfaction score of the operator was nine, the satisfaction score of the anesthesiologist was eight, the satisfaction score of the patients was 10, the rate of patient willingness to re-accept the procedure was 93.3% and the circulation was stable during the operation.

Conclusion

MAC using TCI of remifentanil with continuous pumping dexmedetomidine can effectively inhibit the stress response to fibreoptic bronchoscopy in patients with severe tracheal stenosis while maintaining spontaneous breathing. Under the anesthesia management of an experienced anesthesiologist, it provides a reference to tracheoscopic anesthesia of autonomous breathing.

Clinical trial registration

[http://www.chictr.org.cn/], identifier [ChiCTR 2100043380].

Sedation for bronchoscopy in children: A prospective randomized double-blinded trial

INTRODUCTION

In pediatric patients, flexible bronchoscopy requires deep sedation. Different sedation regimes are common, but only some of them include opioids. Due to their antitussive effect, the use of short-acting opioids may be beneficial for this particular indication, but additional respiratory depression may lead to an increase in adverse events. Here, we systematically compared sedation regimes in children undergoing flexible bronchoscopy with either propofol alone, or a combination of propofol and remifentanil. The primary outcome parameter was the frequency of coughing episodes during the intervention. Secondary outcome parameters were frequency and types of complications, patient satisfaction, examiner satisfaction, and recovery time after finishing the sedation.

METHODS

Fifty children aged 1-17 years undergoing flexible bronchoscopy under deep sedation with propofol were randomly assigned to two groups: PR receiving propofol and remifentanil and PP receiving propofol only. Sedation depth was predefined as Comfort Score 10-13.

RESULTS

We found significantly less coughing episodes ([med (IQR)] PR: 0.73 (0.28-2.45)/min; PP: 1.98 (1.26-3.12)/min; p = .010) and shorter recovery time in Group PR (PR: 13.5 (8-17.5) min; PP: 21.0 (14-27) min; p = .011). Examiner's satisfaction was higher in Group PR (PR: 10 (8-10); PP: 9 (7-9); p = .012). The number of adverse events, patient satisfaction, and required propofol dose during the intervention did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

We suggest the combination of propofol with remifentanil instead of using propofol alone in pediatric procedural sedation for flexible bronchoscopy.

Flexible bronchoscopy in a tertiary healthcare facility: a review of indications and outcomes

Objectives

Flexible Fibreoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) is a major diagnostic and therapeutic tool employed largely in respiratory medicine but its use in our country has been quite limited. We performed a retrospective review of the indications, overall diagnostic yield and safety of FFB at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Study Setting

Cardiothoracic Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Study Participants

All bronchoscopy records from January 2017 - December 2018.

Interventions

Eight-five bronchoscopy reports generated over a 2-year period were reviewed. Using a data extraction form, patient's demographic details, indications for FFB, sedation given, specimen obtained and results of investigation, and complications encountered were recorded and entered into SPSS version 22. Descriptive analysis was performed and presented as means and percentages.

Results

Suspected lung cancer was the predominant indication for bronchoscopy requests (55.3%). Diagnostic yield of endobronchial biopsy was 86.7% increased to 93.3% when biopsy was combined with bronchial washing cytology. Bronchial washing geneXpert was positive in 20.8% of sputum negative cases, and 20.7% of patients with unresolved pneumonia and bronchiectasis had a positive microbial yield. Overall mild complications occurred in 5.9% of patients with no mortality.

Conclusion

Flexible bronchoscopy has a significantly high diagnostic yield, particularly in evaluating lung cancers and undiagnosed lung infections with minimal associated complications, hence increasing its availability in the country and widening the diagnostic scope at the cardiothoracic unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Funding

None declared.

Dexmedetomidine facilitates extubation in children who require intubation and respiratory support after airway foreign body retrieval: a case-cohort analysis of 57 cases

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate whether dexmedetomidine had sedative weaning advantage for extubation after airway foreign body (FB) removal in children.

METHODS

A retrospective case-cohort comparison study with total of 57 critical children who required mechanical ventilation after rigid bronchoscopy was performed. After tracheal intubation, group D (received dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg over 10 min, followed by an infusion of 0.8 µg/kg/h), and group RP (received remifentanil-propofol 6-10 µg/kg/h and 1-3 mg/kg/h, respectively). The primary outcome was successful extubation rate on first weaning trial. The minor outcomes included weaning time, emergency agitation, coughing score and the incidence of respiratory adverse complications on emergency.

MAIN RESULTS

All 57 patients were included in the analysis, with 30 patients in group D and 27 controlled cases in group RP. The success rate of first weaning trial in the D group was 96.7 vs 77.8% in the RP group, risk ratio (RR) 1.56, 95% CI [0.78-1.98]. Time for resuming spontaneous breathing after termination infusion was shorter in the D group (median 8 min, IQR 15 min) vs RP group (median 12 min, IQR 19 min, P = 0.02, RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.14-6.57).

CONCLUSIONS

In mechanical ventilation of pediatric patients following rigid bronchoscopy, in comparison to remifentanil-propofol, dexmedetomidine is proved to have high success rate for weaning strategy. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN?: Remifentanil is proved to be effective for weaning in ICU patients. Dexmedetomedine can provide similar rates of smooth extubation for pediatric patients who underwent airway surgery. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS?: Invasive ventilation is used for patients with severe comorbidity after airway surgery, but the correct strategy for pediatric extubation after removal of airway foreign body remains unclear. For these patients with short-term mechanical ventilation, dexmedetomedine may improve the extubation rate, when compared with remifentanil-propofol.

Anesthesia for interventional pulmonology procedures: a review of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy

PURPOSE

Interventional pulmonology is a growing subspecialty of pulmonary medicine with flexible and rigid bronchoscopies increasingly used by interventional pulmonologists for advanced diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. This review discusses different technical aspects of anesthesia for interventional pulmonary procedures with an emphasis placed on pharmacologic combinations, airway management, ventilation techniques, and common complications.

SOURCE

Relevant medical literature was identified by searching the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for publications on different anesthesia topics applicable to interventional pulmonary procedures. Cited literature included case reports, original research articles, review articles, meta-analyses, guidelines, and official society statements.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Interventional pulmonology is a rapidly growing area of medicine. Anesthesiologists need to be familiar with different considerations required for every procedure, particularly as airway access is a shared responsibility with pulmonologists. Depending on the individual case characteristics, a different selection of airway method, ventilation mode, and pharmacologic combination may be required. Most commonly, airways are managed with supraglottic devices or endotracheal tubes. Nevertheless, patients with central airway obstruction or tracheal stenosis may require rigid bronchoscopy and jet ventilation. Although anesthetic approaches may vary depending on factors such as the length, complexity, and acuity of the procedure, the majority of patients are anesthetized using a total intravenous anesthetic technique.

CONCLUSIONS

It is fundamental for the anesthesia provider to be updated on interventional pulmonology procedures in this rapidly growing area of medicine.

Use of computer-assisted drug therapy outside the operating room

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The number of procedures performed in the out-of-operating room setting under sedation has increased many fold in recent years. Sedation techniques aim to achieve rapid patient turnover through the use of short-acting drugs with minimal residual side-effects (mainly propofol and opioids). Even for common procedures, the practice of sedation delivery varies widely among providers. Computer-based sedation models have the potential to assist sedation providers and offer a more consistent and safer sedation experience for patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Target-controlled infusions using propofol and other short-acting opioids for sedation have shown promising results in terms of increasing patient safety and allowing for more rapid wake-up times. Target-controlled infusion systems with real-time patient monitoring can titrate drug doses automatically to maintain optimal depth of sedation. The best recent example of this is the propofol-based Sedasys sedation system. Sedasys redefined individualized sedation by the addition of an automated clinical parameter that monitors depth of sedation. However, because of poor adoption and cost issues, it has been recently withdrawn by the manufacturer.

SUMMARY

Present automated drug delivery systems can assist in the provision of sedation for out-of-operating room procedures but cannot substitute for anesthesia providers. Use of the available technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, decrease provider workload, and have a long-term economic impact on anesthesia care delivery outside of the operating room.

Anesthesia for Advanced Bronchoscopic Procedures: State-of-the-Art Review

The bronchoscopic procedures have seen a remarkable increase in both numbers and complexity. Although many anesthesia providers have kept pace with the challenge, the practice is varied and frequently suboptimal. Shared airway during bronchoscopy poses unique challenges. The available reviews have tried to address this lacuna; however, these have frequently dealt with the technical aspects of bronchoscopy than anesthetic challenges. The present review provides evidence-based management insights into anesthesia for bronchoscopy-both flexible and rigid. A systematic approach toward pre-procedural evaluation and risk stratification is presented. The possible anatomical and physiological factors that can influence the outcomes are discussed. Pharmacological principles guiding sedation levels and appropriate selection of sedatives form the crux of safe anesthetic management. The newer and safer drugs that can have potential role in anesthesia for bronchoscopy in the near future are discussed. Ventilatory strategies during bronchoscopy for prevention of hypoxia and hypercarbia are emphasized.