Monitored anesthesia care for great saphenous vein stripping surgery with target controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil: a prospective study

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Abstract

Introduction

Great or small saphenous vein stripping is a commonly performed surgical procedure as a treatment for varicose veins of the lower extremity. There are several anesthetic methods, including general anesthesia, neuraxial block, and peripheral nerve blocks, such as femoral nerve block, popliteal nerve block, and posterior cutaneous nerve block [1234]. Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) with local anesthesia is another option for patients undergoing vein stripping.

This surgery is usually performed on an ambulatory basis, because it typically causes minor surgical trauma and low postoperative pain [5]. Thus, many surgeons and anesthesiologists prefer MAC with local anesthesia or peripheral nerve block rather than general anesthesia or neuraxial block, due to the faster recovery from anesthesia and earlier discharge from the hospital [16].

Propofol has a rapid onset time and short-acting properties. However, propofol cannot be used alone because it has no analgesic effect [7]. Remifentanil, which can provide intense analgesia, is an ultra-short-acting opioid and has a rapid onset time, so it can be controlled easily when infused continuously [8]. Thus, the combination of propofol and remifentanil is widely used in MAC. To provide precise delivery of these drugs, target controlled infusion (TCI) systems have been provided by several manufacturers. The device automatically calculates the infusion rate of a drug in real time, based on pharmacokinetics with the patient's demographic data (e.g., weight, height, and age). The device enables precise control of the drug level (the target concentration) in the plasma (Cp) or at the brain effect site (Ce). The anesthesiologist may change the target concentration according to the status of the patient during the procedure [9].

Today, sedation during various procedures, including minor operations, endoscopy, angiographic intervention, and dental procedures, is often performed by the procedural operator, who may be a surgeon, endoscopist, radiologist, or dentist. These physicians also use propofol and remifentanil when they sedate patients. However, deep sedation or MAC can create several problems, such as respiratory depression, cardiovascular events, and inadequate anesthesia [10]. The most important issue is respiration because it can result in serious complications or cause permanent sequelae, such as hypoxic brain damage and even death. Thus, achieving an appropriate depth of sedation and continuous monitoring of the patient's condition are vital.

Although vein stripping surgery typically only involves a small incision site at the level of the femoral vein, the sphere of vein manipulation extends into the lower leg. Because infiltration of local anesthetics at the incision site cannot cover the whole area of vein manipulation and can cause pain and discomfort, deeper sedation than conscious sedation is necessary during such vein stripping surgery. We sought to determine the required target concentration at the effect site of propofol and remifentanil when deep sedation was achieved with MAC anesthesia and related respiratory depression during varicose vein stripping surgery.

Materials and Methods

This research was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the hospital. After explaining the purpose and methods of the study to the patients, 51 adult patients provided written consent. They were of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II and were to undergo great saphenous vein stripping surgery. The patients were aged from 20 to 70 years. Exclusion criteria were a history of drug abuse or chronic sedative use, high cardiovascular risk, significant pulmonary disease, need for the prone position (scheduled together with small saphenous vein stripping), and known allergies to any medication we intended to use.

After the patient arrived in the operating room, standard monitoring, including non invasive arterial pressure (NIBP), electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate (HR), and pulse oximetry (SpO₂), was started. Additionally, a bispectral index (BIS) monitor (BIS, Covidien, MA, USA) was applied and an end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) sampling line was placed. When the anesthesiologist confirmed that the vital signs were stable, 500 ml of crystalloid fluid (normal saline or Hartmann's solution) was dripped intravenously (IV). Without supplying oxygen, 0.05 mg/kg midazolam and 0.2 mg glycopyrrolate were injected intravenously.

At 5 min, propofol infusion was started using a TCI pump (Orchestra base primea, Fresenius Kabi, Bad Homburg, Germany). The first patient's initial Ce of propofol was set to 0.9 µg/ml, slightly lower than the plasma concentration required for sedation [11]. From the second patient, the initial Ce for propofol started from the last patient's Ce at the end of surgery. Simultaneously, draping of the operation site was performed and the anesthesiologist changed the Ce of propofol by 0.2 µg/ml to maintain BIS values within 55–75. Remifentanil infusion was started 2 min before the start of surgery, and 2% lidocaine skin infiltration was initiated immediately before the inguinal incision. The first patient's initial Ce of remifentanil was set to 0.9 ng/ml, slightly lower than the plasma concentration for minor surgery [12]. In the same way as propofol, the last patient's Ce at the end of surgery determined the next patient's initial Ce. The anesthesiologist increased the Ce of remifentanil by 0.2 ng/ml if the patient showed a pain response, such as moving, moaning, frowning, or an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or HR by more than 20% from baseline. In contrast, when MAP or HR was decreased by 20% or more from baseline, the Ce of remifentanil was lowered by 0.2 ng/ml.

Respiration assistance was started immediately if needed at any point after midazolam administration, and was performed as follows (Fig. 1): 1. Oxygen (O₂; 6 L/min) supply was started if SpO₂ was < 95%, 2. the chin lift (CL) technique was applied additionally if SpO₂ continued to be < 95% despite O₂ supply for 30 s, there was a progressive decrease in SpO₂, ETCO₂ > 50 mmHg, or respiration rate (RR) < 10 breaths/min, and 3. if hypoventilation continued, assisted ventilation (AV) with a mask was started. In all cases, advanced respiratory support devices, including a laryngeal mask, airway and endotracheal tubes, and a laryngoscope for intubation, were available for emergency use in cases of difficult mask ventilation.

Fig. 1

Flow chart of respiratory support during surgery. SpO₂: pulse oximetry. RR: respiration rate. ETCO₂: end-tidal CO₂.

At the end of surgery, Ce and the infusion rates of propofol and remifentanil at that time were recorded and all infusions were stopped. Total amounts of infused propofol and remifentanil were recorded. The most advanced step of respiration assist (self, O₂, CL, or AV) was recorded. The maximal Ce and infusion rates of propofol and remifentanil during the operation were recorded. The maximum Ce of propofol was defined as the highest Ce after the moment the patient reached steady state with a well-maintained BIS and no moving or awakening for longer than 5 min when draping. This defining process was required due to the need to titrate Ce. The former patient's last Ce determined the next patient's initial Ce, and this level of Ce could be high for the next patient. Thus, if the maximum Ce was determined without titration, the initial Ce could be the maximum Ce in such patients. Also, in the case of remifentanil, the titration was done after skin incision and the maximal Ce of remifentanil was defined as the highest Ce after reaching steady state (the patient showed no pain response and MAP and HR were within 20% of baseline) for longer than 5 min during the operation.

When the patient awoke and the anesthesiologist confirmed self-respiration and vital signs, the patient was moved to the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). The anesthesiologist checked for intraoperative awareness, postoperative nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Patient satisfaction was assessed in PACU with a six-point Likert scale, from 1, very dissatisfied, to 6, very satisfied [13].

After the surgery, the patients were allocated to two groups. One was the group of patients who did not need assisted mask ventilation (non-AV group) and the other was the group of patients who were assisted by mask ventilation (AV group; Fig. 1). We compared the maximum Ce values of propofol and remifentanil and adverse events between two groups.

We assumed that the AV group would have twice the Ce of the non-AV group, based on previous studies [141516]. A power analysis based on 90% power with a type I error of 0.05 determined that we needed to include 23 patients in each group. Assuming a 10% drop-out rate, it was calculated that 51 patients would be required.

Data analyses were conducted with the SPSS software (version 20.0, IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Student's t-test was used for continuous variables and the χ² test was used for categorical variables. A P value < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.

Results

One patient (2%) did not request O₂ and 8 (16%) patients needed only O₂ until the end of surgery. The anesthesiologist performed the chin lift technique in 22 (43%) patients and assisted mask ventilation was used with 20 (39%) patients (Fig. 1). Thus, 31 patients were included in the non-AV group and 20 patients were in the AV group. The mean age of patients in the non-AV group was 53.6 years, significantly older than the AV group, where patients were aged 46.3 years. There was no significant difference in other aspects of other demographics (Table 1).

Table 1

Demographic Data

The maximum Ce values of propofol in the non-AV group and the AV group were 1.14 ± 0.48 µg/ml (2.97 ± 1.29 mg/kg/h) and 1.33 ± 0.44 ng/ml (3.53 ± 1.37 mg/kg/h), respectively. The maximum Ce values of remifentanil in the non-AV group and AV group were 1.41 ± 0.40 ng/ml (0.06 ± 0.02 µg/kg/min) and 1.54 ± 0.38 ng/ml (0.07 ± 0.02 µg/kg/min), respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (Table 2).

Table 2

Dose and Infusion Drug Data

One patient experienced awareness during the operation. The satisfaction score of this patient was 2 and was 6 for all other patients. No patient complained of opioid side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.

Discussion

We sought to determine the required target concentrations at the effect site of propofol and remifentanil when an appropriate level of sedation was achieved by MAC anesthesia during varicose vein stripping surgery. The mean maximum Ce of propofol was 1.21 µg/ml (3.19 mg/kg/h) and the mean maximum Ce of remifentanil was 1.46 ng/ml (0.06 µg/kg/min).

Vein stripping surgery usually takes about 1 h or less and causes minimal blood loss, minimal surgical pain, and minor trauma. This is why such surgery is usually performed on an ambulatory basis. Armellin et al. [17] reported that deep sedation coupled with local anesthetic infiltration was a simple and reliable method for vein stripping in day surgery patients. Eikaas and Raeder [9] and Hong et al. [18] suggested that the combination of propofol and remifentanil was suitable for ambulatory surgery, due to the fast recovery and the low incidence of nausea and vomiting.

Usually, MAC is the method of choice for varicose vein stripping surgery in our hospital. There are three elements of MAC: safe sedation, control of patient anxiety, and pain control [19]. To satisfy these elements, an appropriate level of sedation is important [10]. Due to the wide surgical region involved along the femoral vein, deep sedation is necessary, rather than conscious sedation, during vein stripping surgery.

The ASA describes that conscious sedation secures a patent airway, but deep sedation may require airway support [20]. Thus, manual bagging by an anesthesiologist could be used and, occasionally, an airway device, such as intubation or supraglottic airway (laryngeal mask airway) may be necessary to maintain the upper airway. However, in our hospital, manual assist under deep sedation would be preferred, to avoid general anesthesia and intubation and the disadvantages of these devices, including sore throat, possible risk of laryngospasm, and higher costs [3].

Previous studies using propofol and opioids during MAC set specific concentrations of propofol and compared several levels of opioids. Heo et al. [14] infused propofol at a rate of 3.2–3.4 mg/kg/h and compared two infusion rates of remifentanil: 0.05 versus 0.1 µg/kg/min. The results showed that 0.05 µg/kg/min provided appropriate analgesia without respiratory depression. Ryu et al. [16] used a TCI system, infused propofol at a Ce of 1.0 µg/ml, and compared three Ce values of remifentanil — 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 ng/ml — during cataract surgery. It was found that 1.0 ng/ml Ce of remifentanil provided optimal conditions. Lee et al. [15] performed MAC during carpal tunnel release surgery, infusing propofol 2.0 µg/ml using a TCI pump and compared three infusion rates of remifentanil: 0.05, 0.07, and 0.1 µg/kg/min. They reported that 0.07 µg/kg/min was the optimal dose without adverse events.

However, we had empirical considerations from clinical practice that the level of consciousness, respiration, and pain responses could be altered by small changes in target concentrations, such as 0.2 µg/ml propofol and 0.2 ng/ml remifentanil during deep sedation. Thus, in this research, we chose the method of changing target concentration based on the patient's condition manually, rather than preset concentrations of the drugs.

There was only one patient who did not request O₂. He needed 0.9 µg/ml (2.49 mg/kg/h) and 1.5 ng/ml (0.06 µg/kg/min) maximum Ce values of propofol and remifentanil, respectively, and his BIS was maintained at 72–79 during surgery. Three studies that were mentioned earlier gave O₂ through a mask or nasal prong to every patient [141516]. The authors of these studies reported that 2–15% of patients showed desaturation during surgery. A much larger proportion of patients, ~40%, suffered respiratory depression in this trial. The strict criterion of desaturation (SpO₂ < 95%) in our trial versus the other three studies (SpO₂ < 90% or 92%) may have contributed to the higher rate of respiratory depression. Additionally, airway manipulation, such as a chin lift, was not described in these studies. Thus, it might not be fair to compare the proportion of patients directly, but we think the higher respiratory support rate was because we intervened promptly when a patient was seen to be going into respiration depression.

In the three earlier studies, the higher the remifentanil concentration infused, the more patients were desaturated [141516]. However, in our study, the target concentration of the drugs did not affect whether patients required respiratory support. Changing the target concentration of both drugs was designed to resemble normal clinical practice, but it may be a reason for the insignificant difference. The lowest maximum Ce values of propofol and remifentanil were 0.3 µg/ml (0.55 mg/kg/h) and 0.9 ng/ml (0.03 µg/kg/min), respectively, in the same patient. This male patient received supported respiration up to the CL step. This indicates that even a low Ce can bring about respiratory depression. From these results, we can advise that physicians should have an awareness of unpredictable respiratory depression and provide attention and careful monitoring during deep sedation to avoid adverse events.

The only factor that was different between the groups by respiration assist method was age. The AV group (46.3) was younger than the non-AV group (53.6). We did an additional analysis of the relationship between age and target concentration. Patients who were aged 50 or older required a lower maximal Ce of propofol (1.08 ± 0.40 µg/ml) than patients who were younger than 50 (1.41 ± 0.51 µg/ml; P = 0.014). The maximal Ce of remifentanil was similar between the two groups by age. In terms of assisted ventilation, the older (≥ 50 years of age) group showed a significantly lower rate of AV (26.7%) than the younger (< 50 years of age) group (57.1%; P = 0.028). We can infer from these results that propofol may contribute to the difference between the AV and non-AV groups.

No patient complained of nausea or vomiting. Continuous changing of the Ce with feedback from the patient's condition resulted in a low total infusion dose and no adverse effects of the opioid. Additionally, patient satisfaction scores were very high.

The current study has several limitations. First, it was unclear which factor(s) may play a role in respiratory depression. Second, this was an observational study rather than a randomized controlled trial. Additionally, although there was no patient who could not be ventilated with a mask, it would have been interesting if there was an advanced option in the respiratory assist steps including application of airway devices for a 'cannot ventilate' situation. A well-designed randomized controlled study will be necessary in the future to determine the relationship between age and respiratory depression during deep sedation.

In summary, MAC during saphenous vein stripping surgery with propofol and remifentanil infusion after midazolam injection and 2% lidocaine skin infiltration is useful for ambulatory surgery because intubation is not necessary, it barely causes nausea/vomiting, fast recovery and early discharge are possible, and it increases patient satisfaction. However, 82% of patients needed respiratory assistance, including chin lift and assisted ventilation with a mask, and in almost every patient (except one), O₂ supply was essential. Furthermore, preparation of airway devices is required.

In conclusion, excellent patient satisfaction was achieved using low infusion rates of propofol and remifentanil under MAC during vein stripping surgery, but close monitoring and care are necessary.

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