Postoperative Analgesia with Remifentanil vs Morphine-Metamizole Following Cardiac Surgery

Background: Pain management after cardiac surgery has been based on parenteral long-acting opioids such as morphine. The other alternative is remifentanil. We compared the efficacity of remifentanil vs morphine -metamizole for post cardiac surgery pain relief. Methods; Twenty patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, receiving standardized propofol–fentanyl and propofol based anesthesia, remifentanil group (Group R, n = 10) and fentanyl (Group F, n = 10). Postoperative analgesia was provided in R group initially with remifentanil and later with morphine-metamizole and in F group immediately after operation. Pain was controlled by visual observation, questioning, in rest and during coughing, with a score (0-3). Results; There is no difference in time of extubation between groups but, pain score was much higher in F (3-9) group in first hour compared with R group (0-4). Morphine requirements was higher in (R) after remifentanil was stopped, in a first hour, but was lower after 24 hours compared with F group. Conclusion: Use of remifentanil is associated with lower scale of pain in postoperative period and lower morphine requirement after 24 hours, when analgesia treatment was changed.