Abstract: Objective To explore whether maintaining low dose remifentanil target controlled infusion (TCI) during emergence from general anesthesia can improve the quality of recovery profiles for the patients under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. Methods Forty elective scoliosis surgical patients were randomized into two groups: control group (n=20, all anesthetic drugs paused during emergence) and remifentanil group (n=20, maintaining low dose remifentanil target controlled infusion while propofol infusion paused during emergence). Awake time, tracheal extubation time and quality score of recovery status were recorded. Results Awake time and tracheal extubation time were (12.76±3.56) min and (13.98±4.06) min respectively in control group, while it were (13.14±3.87) min and (14.21±4.77) min respectively in remifentanil group. There was no significant difference of awake and tracheal extubation time between two groups. However, the patient number with quality score of recovery status 1/2/3/4/5 in control group were 1/10/5/3/1 respectively, while it were 5/12/3/0/0 respectively in remifentanil group (P<0.05). Conclusions Maintaining low dose remifentanil target controlled infusion during emergence from general anesthesia can improve recovery quality and does not prolong awake time and tracheal extubation time for the patients under total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and remifentanil.

Key words: remifentanil, target controlled infusion, extubation, recovery