Effects of caffeine administration on sedation and respiratory parameters in patients recovering from anesthesia

Nafisseh S Warner; Matthew A Warner; Darrel R Schroeder; Juraj Sprung; Toby N Weingarten

doi:10.17305/bjbms.2018.2434

Authors

Nafisseh S Warner Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Matthew A Warner Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Darrel R Schroeder Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Juraj Sprung Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
Toby N Weingarten Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bjbms.2018.2434

Keywords:

Caffeine, respiratory insufficiency, anesthesia, sedation, recovery

Abstract

Caffeine has been shown to enhance the speed of recovery from general anesthesia in murine models, though data in human patients is lacking. This is a retrospective review of intravenous caffeine administration (median dose 150 [125, 250] mg) to 151 heavily sedated patients in the post-anesthesia recovery area, to determine the association between caffeine administration and changes in sedation score, respiratory rate, and oxyhemoglobin saturation. Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score, respiratory rate, and oxyhemoglobin saturation values were obtained during the 90-minute period prior to and following caffeine administration. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) with explanatory variables of time, caffeine, and the time-by-caffeine interaction were created to assess changes in the variables of interest after caffeine administration. Following the administration of caffeine, the RASS scores increased (estimate = 0.57, SE = 0.14, p < 0.001) but a trend over time or in the interaction effect was not observed, suggesting that the changes in RASS were not solely due to the recovery from anesthesia over time. No association was found between caffeine administration and changes in respiratory parameters. No adverse cardiac events were observed. Our data suggests that intravenous caffeine may enhance the speed of recovery following general anesthesia, though future prospective trials are necessary to define the optimal dose and timing of administration.

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Author Biographies

Nafisseh S Warner, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Department of Anesthesiology
Matthew A Warner, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Department of Anesthesiology
Darrel R Schroeder, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics
Juraj Sprung, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Department of Anesthesiology
Toby N Weingarten, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Department of Anesthesiology

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