Stress Response in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Study of Fentanyl Bolus, Fentanyl Infusion, and Fentanyl-Midazolam Infusion

Abstract

We demonstrated a significant endocrine stress response in infants with well compensated congenital cardiac disease undergoing cardiac surgery, but without adverse postoperative outcome. The use of large-dose fentanyl, with or without midazolam, with the intention of providing "stress free" anesthesia, does not appear to be an important determinant of early postoperative outcome.