Comparative study of anesthesia with remifentanil VS fentanyl in terms of postoperative pain and shivering

Abstract Remifentanil is reported to be cleared rapidly more than other any opioids. It is considered that this characteristic may lead to an increase in postoperative pain and shivering after general anesthesia with remifentanil. This study was aimed to examine the influence of remifentanil to these adverse symptoms in comparison with fentanyl. The subjects consisted of 41 female patients having undergone a total intravenous anesthesia with remifentanil or/and fentanyl for gynecological laparoscopic surgery. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of postoperative pain. Shivering occurred significantly more frequently in patients who had received remifentanil anesthesia, associated with a significant lower body temperature after general anesthesia. Careful management of intraoperative body temperature is important to prevent the occurrence of shivering after total intravenous general anesthesia with remifentanil.