Sufentanil
Pronunciation: soo-FEN-tuh-nil
Highly potent synthetic opioid used in neuraxial anesthesia for labor analgesia and cesarean delivery.
Full Definition
Sufentanil is an extremely potent synthetic opioid analgesic, approximately 5-10 times more potent than fentanyl, commonly used in obstetric anesthesia for both labor analgesia and cesarean delivery. When administered intrathecally or epidurally, it provides rapid onset, excellent analgesia with minimal motor block, making it ideal for ambulatory labor analgesia. Its high lipophilicity allows for rapid onset but also increased potential for systemic absorption. In cesarean delivery, small doses of intrathecal sufentanil can provide excellent intraoperative and early postoperative analgesia while minimizing side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and respiratory depression.
Usage
Usage note: Dosing is typically in micrograms due to high potency; ensure proper decimal placement in documentation.
In Context
- "Epidural analgesia was initiated with sufentanil 10 mcg and bupivacaine 0.125%." — Labor analgesia record
- "Intrathecal sufentanil 2.5 mcg was added to the spinal anesthetic for cesarean delivery." — Anesthetic record