Optimal dose of pretreated-dexmedetomidine in fentanyl-induced cough suppression: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Effect of Optimizing the Induction Regimen in Preventing Cough Reactions in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

PURPOSE

During the induction of general anesthesia, opioids and endotracheal intubation may cause coughing. This study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of an optimized drug induction scheme for general anesthesia to prevent coughing in patients.

METHODS

A total of 220 patients aged 18 to 65 years who underwent surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were randomly assigned to two groups, each with 110 patients. One group was administered a divided sufentanil bolus (group A) and the other with a single sufentanil bolus (group B). Anesthesia induction was performed according to the drug induction scheme of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd minutes. The primary outcome was a coughing episode associated with the administration of opioids during anesthesia induction. We also recorded the pain associated with drug injection, hemodynamics, and blood oxygen saturation during the induction of anesthesia.

FINDINGS

All patients were included in the final statistical analysis. Compared with group B, the incidence of opioid induced cough (OIC) was significantly higher in group A (9.1% vs. 0, P = 0.001). There was no cough reaction of tracheal intubation in either group. There was no severe pain due to propofol and rocuronium injection in either group (P > 0.05). The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) values were within the normal range at each time point during the induction period in both groups.

IMPLICATIONS

According to the optimized 1st, 2nd, and 3rd minutes anesthesia induction regimen, with a single final intravenous bolus of sufentanil after the diluted rocuronium bromide administration, no sufentanil and tracheal intubation induced coughing reactions were observed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200062749, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=175018) on August 17, 2022.

Comparison of a Small Dose of Oxycodone and Sufentanil for the Prevention of Sufentanil-Induced Cough during General Anesthesia Induction: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Sufentanil is widely used during anesthesia induction. However, it can cause coughing via different mechanisms. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a small dose of oxycodone and sufentanil in suppressing sufentanil-induced cough (SIC) during general anesthesia induction.

Methods

Of the 174 patients scheduled for elective surgery, 144 were eligible and randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 48). Five minutes before sufentanil bolus (0.4 μg/kg), patients in group O received 0.02  mg/kg oxycodone intravenously within 5 s, those in group S received 0.02 μg/kg sufentanil within 5 s, and those in group N received an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline within 5 s. Sufentanil was diluted to 5 μg/ml and administered within 5  s after pretreatment. The incidence and severity of cough in the three groups were evaluated within 1 minute after sufentanil injection during the anesthesia induction. Their mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded at T0 (after entering the operation), T1 (3 minutes after pretreatment), T2 (before intubation), and T3 (1 minute after intubation).

Results

The incidences of cough in group N, group O, and group S were 20 (41.6%), 7 (14.5%), and 6 (12.5%), respectively. Compared with group N, patients from group O and group S exhibited significantly reduced incidence and severity of cough, and the severity of cough in group O and group S was significantly reduced compared with group N (P < 0.05). No significant differences in the rangeability of MAP and HR were noted at the four time points in the three groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. Preconditioning using intravenous oxycodone (0.02 mg/kg) or sufentanil (0.02 μg/kg) could represent an effective approach to reducing SIC in anesthesia induction and was associated with relatively stable hemodynamic state during general anesthesia. This trial is registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with registration number ChiCTR1900021087.

Comparison of Five Prophylactically Intravenous Drugs in Preventing Opioid-Induced Cough: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Due to the absence of direct comparisons of different therapeutic drugs in preventing opioid-induced cough (OIC) during the induction of general anesthesia, clinicians often faced difficulties in choosing the optimal drug for these patients. Hence, this network meta-analysis was conducted to solve this problem.

Methods: Online databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar, were searched comprehensively to identify eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs), up to March 15th, 2021. Within a Bayesian framework, network meta-analysis was performed by the “gemtc” version 0.8.2 package of R-3.4.0 software, and a pooled risk ratio (RR) associated with 95% credible interval (CrI) was calculated.

Results: A total of 20 RCTs were finally enrolled, and the overall heterogeneity for this study was low to moderate. Traditional pair-wise meta-analysis results indicated that all of the five drugs, namely, lidocaine, ketamine, dezocine, butorphanol, and dexmedetomidine could prevent OIC for four clinical outcomes, compared with the placebo (all p-values < 0.05). Moreover, dezocine had the best effect, compared with that of the other drugs (all p-values < 0.05). Network meta-analysis results suggested that the top three rank probabilities for four clinical outcomes from best to worst were dezocine, butorphanol, and ketamine based on individual/cumulative rank plots and surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) probabilities. The node-splitting method indicated the consistency of the direct and indirect evidence.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that all of these five drugs could prevent OIC compared with the placebo. Moreover, the top three rank probabilities for four clinical outcomes from best to worst were dezocine, butorphanol, and ketamine. Our results were anticipated to provide references for guiding clinical research, and further high-quality RCTs were required to verify our findings.

Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42021243358].

Comparison of remifentanil concentrations with and without dexmedetomidine for the prevention of emergence cough after nasal surgery: a randomized double-blinded trial

Background

Preventing emergence cough after nasal surgery is critical. Emergence cough can provoke immediate postoperative bleeding, which leads to upper airway obstruction. In the present study, we compared the effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil to prevent emergence cough after propofol anesthesia for nasal surgery when remifentanil was or was not combined with dexmedetomidine.

Methods

Forty-seven patients with propofol-remifentanil anesthesia for nasal surgery were randomly assigned to a dexmedetomidine group (Group D, n = 23) or a saline group (Group S, n = 24). Group D and Group S were infused with dexmedetomidine (0.5 μg/kg) and saline, respectively, for 10 min before the completion of surgery. A predetermined Ce of remifentanil was infused until extubation. Remifentanil Ce to prevent cough in 50 and 95% of patients (EC₅₀ and EC₉₅) was estimated using modified Dixon’s up-and-down method and isotonic regression. Hemodynamic and recovery parameters were recorded.

Results

The EC₅₀ of remifentanil Ce was significantly lower in Group D than in Group S (2.15 ± 0.40 ng/mL vs. 2.66 ± 0.36 ng/mL, p = 0.023). The EC₉₅ (95% CI) of remifentanil Ce was also significantly lower in Group D [2.75 (2.67–2.78) ng/mL] than in Group S [3.16 (3.06–3.18) ng/mL]. Emergence and recovery variables did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusion

The remifentanil EC₅₀ to prevent cough after propofol-remifentanil anesthesia was significantly lower (approximately 19%) when a combination of remifentanil and 0.5 μg/kg dexmedetomidine was used than when remifentanil infusion alone was used in patients undergoing nasal surgery. Therefore, the Ce of remifentanil may be adjusted to prevent emergence cough when used in combination with dexmedetomidine.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03622502, August 9, 2018).

Comparing the different oxycodone doses of prevent oxycodone for prevention of preventing fentanyl-induced cough during induction of general anaesthesia

BACKGROUND

Fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) usually occurs after the intravenous administration of fentanyl during general anaesthesia induction. It is a transient condition depending on the fentanyl administration dose and injection speed. Oxycodone can also prevent FIC because it has been proven to treat coughing. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different oxycodone doses to prevent FIC during general anaesthesia induction.

METHODS

In a double-blind randomised controlled trial, 210 adult patients who were undergoing elective surgery, classified as American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I-II, and aged 20-65 years were randomly assigned into five equally sized groups: Sham group, Group Ⅰ, Group II, Group III and Group IV. Groups Ⅰ-IV were each intravenously injected with oxycodone 0.025, 0.05, 0.075 and 0.100 mg/kg, while an equal volume of normal saline was given instead of oxycodone in the Sham group. Five minutes later, fentanyl 3 μg/kg was intravenously injected within 5 seconds, then, 2 minutes later the other drugs were administered for general anaesthesia induction. The occurrence and severity of coughing were observed within 2 minutes of the fentanyl injection. Vital signs and intensities of coughing were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

Coughing incidences were each 57.1, 50, 42.8, 33.3 and 21.4% in the Sham group and Groups Ⅰ-IV. Significant differences were found in the incidences of coughing between the Sham group and Groups III-IV. No significant differences in FIC incidences have been detected between the Sham group and Groups Ⅰ-II. However, no significant difference in FIC incidence existed between Group III and Group IV. Cough severities in Groups III and IV were significantly lower than in Groups Ⅰ and II (P < .05). No significant differences existed in the hypotension or severe bradycardia incidences during anaesthesia induction among the five groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Oxycodone 0.075 mg/kg provided more effective FIC prevention during general anaesthesia induction.

Mechanism and Management of Fentanyl-Induced Cough

Fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) often occurs after intravenous bolus administration of fentanyl analogs during induction of general anesthesia and analgesia procedure. The cough is generally benign, but sometimes it causes undesirable side effects, including elevated intra-abdominal, intracranial or intraocular pressure. Therefore, understanding the related mechanisms and influencing factors are of great significance to prevent and treat the cough. This paper reviews the molecular mechanism, influencing factors and preventive administration of FIC, focusing on the efficacy and side effects of various drugs in inhibiting FIC to provide some medical reference for anesthesiologists.

Ketorolac tromethamine pretreatment suppresses sufentanil-induced cough during general anesthesia induction: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Background

To observe the effect of pretreatment with ketorolac tromethamine on sufentanil-induced cough in general anesthesia patients.

Methods

A total of 102 patients were screened, and 90 patients were scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. The 90 patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group (C group) and the observation group (KT group). Five minutes before anesthesia induction, the observation group was given ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 mg/kg intravenously within 3 s, while the control group was given the same amount of normal saline intravenously. All patients were given a sufentanil bolus of 0.5 μg/kg (within 3 s) intravenously. One minute later, propofol 2.5 mg/kg and vecuronium 0.15 mg/kg were injected intravenously, and endotracheal intubation was guided by laryngoscopy. The number of coughs that occurred within 1 min after sufentanil injection was recorded. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂) were recorded at T0 (immediately before pretreatment), T1 (5 min after pretreatment), T2 (before intubation), T3 (1 min after intubation) and T4 (5 min after intubation). The incidence of adverse reactions, including nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, delay of recovery, restlessness in the recovery period, respiratory depression and postoperative incision pain, was analyzed.

Results

Within 1 min after sufentanil injection, the incidence and severity of cough in the KT group was significantly lower than that in the C group (P <  0.05). At T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4, there were no significant differences in MAP, HR and SpO2 between the two groups (P >  0.05). There was no significant difference in the dosage of sufentanil, propofol, remifentanil and vecuronium, the incidence of nausea and vomiting, the delay of recovery, dizziness, drowsiness or respiratory depression between the two groups (P >  0.05). However, the incidence of restlessness and the number of patients with VAS scores > 3 in the KT group were significantly lower than those in the C group (P <  0.05).

Conclusion

Pretreatment with intravenous ketorolac tromethamine can significantly reduce the incidence of sufentanil-induced cough during induction of general anesthesia, which can also significantly reduce postoperative incision pain and restlessness during the recovery period.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number# ChiCTR2000030287; date of registration: 27/02/2020).