Median effective effect-site concentration of sufentanil for wake-up test in adolescents undergoing surgery: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND: To determine the median effective concentration of sufentanil as an analgesic during wake-up tests after sevoflurane anesthesia during surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). METHODS: This is a randomised controlled trial. Sixty patients aged 13–18 years scheduled for AIS surgery were randomized into six groups of 10 patients each to receive target effect-site concentrations of sufentanil of 0.19, 0.1809, 0.1723, 0.1641, 0.1563, and 0.1489 ng/ml (target concentration ratio, 1.05). Wake-up time was recorded. Median EC(50) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for sufentanil target-controlled infusion (TCI) were determined using Kärber’s method. The primary outcome was median EC(50) for sufentanil TCI as an analgesic during the wake-up test after sevoflurane anesthesia during surgery for AIS. RESULTS: The EC(50) and 95% CI of sufentanil TCI were 0.1682 ng/ml and 0.1641 ~ 0.1724 ng/ml, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The EC(50) of sufentanil TCI was 0.1682 ng/ml (95% CI: 0.1641 ~ 0.1724 ng/ml) during sevoflurane anesthesia in adolescents undergoing surgery for idiopathic scoliosis with intraoperative wake-up tests. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: ChiCTR-TTRCC-12002696.