A comparison of the effects of sufentanil and fentanyl on intraocular pressure changes due to easy and difficult tracheal intubations

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of sufentanil and fentanyl on intraocular pressure after easy and difficult intubations.

METHODS: From January 2006 to January 2008 there were included 120 patients undergoing general anesthesia at University Hospital Center (Mother Theresa) Service of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Tirana, Albania. The patients were divided into 2 groups, 60 patients each receiving Sufentanil (group S), and Fentanyl (group F), 2 minutes before intubation. Fourteen patients were found to have difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubations (8 in group S, and 6 in group F), in which several attempts to intubate were carried out. We compared the intraocular pressure values before, and 2 minutes after the intubations between the 2 groups, and also between the 2 groups that resulted as difficult intubations.

RESULTS: The mean intraocular pressure measured 2 minutes after intubation in group S was lower than in group F. Mean intraocular pressure changes in the 2 groups were: 1.67 mm Hg in group S, and -1.77 mm Hg in group F. The small groups included patients with difficult intubation; mean intraocular pressure changes were +1.93 mm Hg in group S, and +3.7 mm Hg in group F.

CONCLUSION: Both drugs blunt the increased intraocular pressure during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubations, but in difficult intubation, sufentanil presented better protection than fentanyl.