[Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. Results of a multicenter study of 6,161 patients]

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy and tolerability of propofol, remifentanil and cisatracurium or mivacurium in routine anesthetic practice.

Patients and methods: A total of 6,161 patients scheduled for abdominal or orthopedic surgery were included in this open multicenter phase IV study. Perioperative hemodynamics as well as induction, recovery and discharge times, anesthetics, frequency of PONV and side-effects were studied.

Results: Quality of induction and maintenance of anesthesia were evaluated by anesthesiologists to be good or very good in 88%. 86% of the patients assessed anesthesia as good or very good. Adverse events were reported for 28 patients (0.45%), with hypotension and bradycardia being most frequent. Recovery was evaluated by anesthesiologists to be good or very good in 88%, surgeons and nursing staff assessed the TIVA as good or very good in 90%. Most frequent postoperative complaints were pain (16.7%), nausea (6.1%), shivering (3.1%) and vomiting (0.7%).

Conclusions: The study showed that total intravenous anesthesia using propofol, remifentanil and cisatracurium or mivacurium is safe, tolerable and effective and has a high degree of acceptance.