The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (13): 2018-2024.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2025.13.011

• Clinical Research • Previous Articles    

Effects of surgical pleth index and nociception index on the consumption of remifentanil and postoperative recovery in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy

Yuping YE1,Junling LI1,Guodong LIU1,Yong WEI1,Dan XIAO1,Saijun HUANG2,Shiyuan XU3()   

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and operation,the Affiliated Foshan Women and Children's Hospital,Guangdong Medical University,Foshan 528000,Guangdong,China
  • Received:2025-03-31 Online:2025-07-10 Published:2025-07-18
  • Contact: Shiyuan XU E-mail:xushiyuan355@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the appropriate indicators for monitoring pediatric nociceptive stimulation, this study compared the SPI and NOX, two dual-parameter nociceptive stimulation monitors based on different principles, in terms of their effects on remifentanil consumption and postoperative recovery in pediatric adenotonsillectomy. Methods Children aged 3 ~ 12 years who were scheduled to undergo adenotonsillectomy under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation were randomly assigned to the conventional group (Group R, n = 19), the SPI group (Group S, n = 19), and the NOX group (Group N, n = 18) according to the type of nociceptive stimulation monitor used. All children were subjected to routine fasting. The depth of anesthesia was monitored using a BIS monitor, and the remifentanil infusion rate was adjusted according to heart rate, SPI, or NOX values to maintain the index within the range of 30 ~ 50. After surgery, all children were transferred to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) with the tracheal catheter in place until they recovered. During the operation, the consumption of anesthetics such as remifentanil was recorded. Postoperatively, pain and agitation scores, the incidence of agitation at different time points, the duration of anesthesia, the surgical time, the time to extubation, and the length of stay in the recovery room were measured. Additionally, postoperative adverse reactions and perioperative vital signs were documented. Results In comparison with Group R, in Group N, the intraoperative consumption of remifentanil and the agitation score during the recovery period were significantly reduced. Conversely, in Group S, both of these two indicators were significantly elevated (P < 0.05). Among the three groups, the residence time in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) was the shortest in Group N, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were no significant disparities in the FLACC score, the incidence of agitation, and the extubation time among the three groups. Conclusions The NOX index can serve as a quantitative metric for monitoring nonciceptive stimulation during pediatric adenotonsillectomy. This index has the potential to decrease the intraoperative consumption of opioids and the residence time in the recovery room.

Key words: nociceptive stimulation monitoring, pediatric, adenotonsillectomy, opioid, emergency agitation

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