Effects of goal-directed analgesia using the analgesia nociception index in children undergoing surgery for moyamoya disease

BACKGROUND The potential benefits of Analgesia Nociception Index guided intra-operative analgesia on intra-operative opioid consumption remains to be demonstrated in paediatric anaesthesia. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to explore the effects of Analgesia Nociception Index guided analgesia on sufentanil consumption during anaesthesia and postoperative pain scores in paediatric patients with moyamoya disease. DESIGN A prospective randomised controlled study. SETTING Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. PATIENTS A total of 40 children scheduled for encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was total intra-operative sufentanil consumption, and the secondary outcomes included postoperative pain scores and incidence of opioid-related adverse events. RESULTS The Analgesia Nociception Index group showed lower intra-operative sufentanil consumption (in μg kg −1 h −1 ) compared with the Standard group (0.30 ± 0.12 and 0.39 ± 0.17, respectively; mean difference, –0.09; 95% confidence interval, –0.19 to 0.00; P = 0.049). Postoperatively, compared with the Standard group, the Analgesia Nociception Index group reported lower median pain scores at 18 and 24 h and maximum pain within 24 h (1 [0 to 2] vs. 3 [2 to 5]; P = 0.004, 1 [0 to 2] vs. 3 [1 to 4]; P = 0.041, and 4 [3 to 5] vs. 5 [4 to 7]; P = 0.045, respectively), with fewer patients experiencing nausea (3 [15%] vs. 10 [50%], P = 0.043). CONCLUSION The Analgesia Nociception Index guided analgesic protocol can reduce intra-operative sufentanil consumption and postoperative pain within 24 h with fewer nausea symptoms in paediatric patients with moyamoya disease who undergo encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05672212 (registered at clinicaltrials, principal investigator: K.E.H., registration date: 2 January 2023)