Abstract
BACKGROUND: We compared the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and postoperative outcomes, according to the remifentanil infusion method, during surgery in patients with a high-risk of PONV. METHODS: Ninety patients undergoing elective gynecological pelviscopic surgery were randomly allocated to either target-controlled infusion (TCI, T) or manual (M) infusion. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV until postoperative day (POD) 2. The secondary outcomes were perioperative heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), numerical rating scale pain scores up to POD2, and postoperative hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Forty-four patients in the T group and 45 patients in the M group were analyzed. The total dose of remifentanil infusion was significantly higher in the T group (T group: 0.093 (0.078-0.112) μg/kg/min; M group: 0.062 (0.052-0.076) µg/kg/min, p < 0.001). Within POD2, the overall PONV was not significantly different (27 (61.4%) vs. 27 (60.0%), p = 0.895). The HR (82 ± 11.5/min vs. 87 ± 11.1/min, p = 0.046) and mean BP (83 ± 17.2 mmHg vs. 90 ± 16.7 mmHg, p = 0.035) were significantly lower in the T group after tracheal intubation. The other postoperative outcomes were comparable between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the total remifentanil infusion dose was higher in the T group than in the M group, the postoperative outcomes were similar. If stable vital signs are desired during tracheal intubation, remifentanil infusion with TCI should be considered.