Compared with fentanyl, sufentanil is associated with

Compared with fentanyl, sufentanil is associated with

• A. Higher ventilatory depression and shorter analgesia
• B. Lower ventilatory depression and shorter analgesia
• C. Lower ventilatory depression and longer postoperative analgesia
• D. No change in respiratory depression

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how potency and duration shape both respiratory effects and postoperative analgesia. Sufentanil is much more potent than fentanyl and is highly lipophilic, so you can achieve the same analgesic effect with a much smaller dose. Using less drug for the same pain relief means less activation of brainstem respiratory centers, so ventilatory depression is reduced for a given level of analgesia. At the same time, its strong mu-receptor affinity and slower redistribution after infusion lead to a longer-lasting analgesic effect in the postoperative period. So compared with fentanyl, sufentanil tends to cause less respiratory depression for equivalent analgesia and provides longer postoperative analgesia.

The main idea is how potency and duration shape both respiratory effects and postoperative analgesia. Sufentanil is much more potent than fentanyl and is highly lipophilic, so you can achieve the same analgesic effect with a much smaller dose. Using less drug for the same pain relief means less activation of brainstem respiratory centers, so ventilatory depression is reduced for a given level of analgesia. At the same time, its strong mu-receptor affinity and slower redistribution after infusion lead to a longer-lasting analgesic effect in the postoperative period. So compared with fentanyl, sufentanil tends to cause less respiratory depression for equivalent analgesia and provides longer postoperative analgesia.