Effect-site concentration of remifentanil for preventing cough during emergence in elderly patients undergoing nasal surgery: a comparison with adult patients

Figures & data

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Variables	Elderly patients (n=22)		Adult patients (n=25)
	Success	Failure	Success	Failure
Sex (males/females)	5/5	10/2	9/3	10/3
Age (years)	67.9±2.8	70.5±4.2	37.4±12.9	32.8±11.0
Weight (kg)	66.0±10.0	64.4±10.3	67.8±13.5	72.1±11.2
Height (cm)	160.4±9.8	165.8±8.2	170.7±7.5	171.6±8.4
ASA physical status (I/II)	2/8	3/9	11/1	11/2

Notes: Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or number. ASA I is defined as a normal healthy patient; ASA II is defined as a patient with mild systemic disease.

Abbreviation: ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Figure 1 Consort flow diagram.

Figure 2 Sequences of effect-site concentration of remifentanil for preventing cough during emergence.

Notes: Horizontal bars represent crossover midpoints (ie, success to failure). The effective effect-site concentration for 50% of patients (EC50) of remifentanil in the (A) elderly and (B) adult patient groups was 2.40±0.25 and 2.33±0.30 ng/mL, respectively.

Table 2 Recovery profiles

Variables	Elderly patients (n=22)	Adult patients (n=25)	P-value
Operation time (min)	34.1±11.5	35.2±14.8	0.777
Anesthesia time (min)	70.4±12.1	71.9±17.1	0.733
Eye opening (min)	14.1±3.8	12.0±2.9	0.035
Extubation time (min)	17.2±4.1	14.0±3.0	0.004
PACU stay (min)	44.5±7.6	38.7±3.4	0.002
Pain at PACU (NRS)	3 (3–4)	3 (3–4.25)	0.302
Pain at PACU (NRS)	4	4	0.835
SaO2 <95%	1	0	0.468
RR <8 breaths/min	8 (36%)	6 (24%)	0.355

Note: Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, median (interquartile range), or number of patients (%).

Abbreviations: NRS, numerical rating scale; PACU, postanesthetic care unit; RR, respiratory rate; SaO₂, oxygen saturation; min, minutes.