Potential responses to remifentanil supply shortages

Abstract

Rapid elimination of remifentanil facilitates the application of intense opioid effect during general anaesthesia whilst maintaining prompt wake-up. Interruptions of remifentanil supply mean clinicians must re-learn titrating of pharmacokinetically longer acting opioids to achieve appropriate levels of opioid effect whilst achieving acceptable recovery times. Opioid-free anaesthesia is achievable for many minor and intermediate surgical procedures for which remifentanil might previously have been used.