This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intraoperative remifentanil infusion on postoperative analgesics requirements after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

One hundred adult patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups to receive sevoflurane with remifentanil infusion (Group R) or not (group C). Sevoflurane concentration and remifentanil dose were adjusted to maintain BIS 40-60 and blood pressure within 20% of the preoperative value, respectively. We assessed the pain intensity by using the four-point verbal rating scale (VRS) (0 = no pain. 1 = slight pain, 2 = moderate pain, 3 = intense or severe pain) at 15 min intervals for 1 hour in recovery room and then at 3-h intervals for 24 h in surgical ward. The analgesic medication was given when VRS score was ≥2 or patients requested it.

There were no differences between the two groups with respect to the requirements for postoperative analgesics in recovery room and surgical ward.

Continuous remifentanil infusion (0.09 ± 0.05 ug/kg/min) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not cause hyperalgesia and more analgesic requirements.