Decreases in Oral Tissue Blood Flow Induced by Remifentanil Are Not Accompanied by Deterioration of Oral Tissue Oxygen Tension in Rabbits

Remifentanil infusion during desflurane anesthesia reduces tissue blood flow while maintaining blood pressure and tissue oxygen tension in the masseter muscle and mandibular bone marrow

“…During remifentanil infusion, MBF and BBF reduced compared with baseline values in both groups, while PmO2 and PbO2 were maintained. In a previous study, remifentanil infusion during sevoflurane anesthesia has been shown to reduce MBF and BBF, but not PmO2 and PbO2 [14]. Our results were consistent with those in that study [14].…”

“…In a previous study, remifentanil infusion during sevoflurane anesthesia has been shown to reduce MBF and BBF, but not PmO2 and PbO2 [14]. Our results were consistent with those in that study [14]. Remifentanil has been interacted with the α2-adrenoreceptor and might constrict peripheral vasoconstriction in the masseter muscle and mandibular bone marrow [8,11,14].…”

“…Because oral and maxillofacial surgery is performed in the region which has an abundant blood supply, controlling tissue blood flow makes a major contribution to improving the visibility of the surgical field and reducing blood loss. We have previously conducted a number of studies focusing on the effect of volatile anesthetics and opioids on oral tissue blood flow [10,14,15,17].…”

“…Meanwhile, when remifentanil was infused during sevoflurane anesthesia, tissue blood flow in the masseter muscle and mandibular bone marrow decreased, while tissue oxygen tension was maintained [14]. Kobayashi et al showed that tissue oxygen consumption declined during continuous remifentanil infusion by calculating the difference between arterial and venous blood oxygen contents [14]. Thus, the maintenance of tissue oxygen tension suggests that tissue oxygen demand/supply balance is well-maintained during remifentanil infusion.…”

“…Although previous studies have addressed the effect of remifentanil infusion during sevoflurane anesthesia on oral tissue blood flow and oral tissue oxygen tension [10,14,15], no other study has described the relationship of remifentanil infusion to oral tissue blood flow and oral tissue oxygen tension during desflurane anesthesia. We therefore hypothesized that continuous infusion of remifentanil during desflurane anesthesia would reduce tissue blood flow in the masseter muscle and mandibular bone marrow, while maintain the tissue oxygen tension under well-maintained hemodynamics.…”