Remifentanil and controlled hypotension; comparison with nitroprusside or esmolol during tympanoplasty.

Purpose: To determine whether remifentanil, combined with propofol, could induce controlled hypotension, reduce middle ear blood flow (MEBF) measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry, provide a “dry” operative field, and could be compared with nitroprusside or esmolol combined with alfentanil and propofol.