Comparison of the Effects of Sufentanil and Fentanyl in Intravenous Patient-Controlled Analgesia after Pediatric Moyamoya Surgery: A Retrospective Study

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) has been one of the most popular modalities for postoperative pain management in orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, or neurosurgery in children. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> We compared the effects of fentanyl and sufentanil used in intravenous PCA on postoperative pain management and opioid-related side effects in pediatric moyamoya disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This retrospective study included 97 pediatric patients who underwent surgery for moyamoya disease. Preoperative and perioperative parameters were assessed. The PCA regimen was as follows: fentanyl group (0.2 μg/kg/mL, 1 mL of loading volume, 0.1 μg/kg/h of basal infusion, a bolus of 0.2 μg/kg on demand, “lock-out” interval of 15 min); sufen­tanil group (0.04 μg/kg/mL, 1 mL of loading volume, 0.02 μg/kg/h of basal infusion, a bolus of 0.04 μg/kg on demand, 15 min lock-out), 10 μg/kg (up to 300 μg) of ramosetron for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting with the same loading dose in both groups. Peripheral nerve blocks were performed. Pain was assessed by numeric rating scale or revised Faces Pain Scale. Side effects were reviewed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The two groups showed similar pain scores and incidence of nausea or vomiting during the first 48 h postoperatively. Additional analgesics were more frequent in the fentanyl group, and PCA was discontinued more frequently in the sufentanil group. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Postoperatively, sufen­tanil in PCA provided more analgesia than fentanyl with less additional analgesics in moyamoya disease. However, PCA with sufentanil was more frequently discontinued due to nausea or vomiting compared to fentanyl-based PCA.