Comparison Between the Effects of Fentanyl Versus Remifentanil on ICSI Regarding Pregnancy Outcomes

The presence of anesthetic drugs in the serum with potential negative effects on hormone concentration and pregnancy rate has been shown in a number of human research. To assess the effects on blood hormone concentration and pregnancy rate of two different medications (remifentanil vs. fentanyl) used for general anesthesia during oocyte retrieval.

the present prospective comparative study was conducted at Iraq's "High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies/Al-Nahrain University/Baghdad/Iraq" infertility center and was approved by Mansoura University for its validity. Sixty infertile women who were having (ICSI) for a range of infertility-related reasons that entered the study. The women's ages varied from 20 to 45 years. The study's length was extended from September 2022 to September 2023. According to the general anesthetic protocol for oocyte retrieval, those patients were divided into two groups. Midazolam, propofol, and fentanyl were given to the group one, while remifentanil, midazolam, and propofol were given to the group two.

Compare the hormone levels before and after fentanyl anesthesia. The current study's findings indicated that remifentanil led to a greater pregnancy rate (40.0%) than fentanyl (36.7%). According to the results, there were significantly higher LH levels after fentanyl anesthesia (P = 0.014). However, insignificantly higher FSH (P = 0.481) and prolactin (P = 0.076) levels post-fentanyl anesthesia. Also, significantly higher LH levels after remifentanil anesthesia (P = 0.046), insignificantly higher FSH levels (P = 0.383) and prolactin levels (P = 0.16) after remifentanil anesthesia. In the fentanyl group, the recovery time was substantially longer (P<0.001).

Because of its quicker recovery time and much greater pregnancy rate, remifentanil is preferred over fentanyl in normal general anesthetic treatments for egg harvest in ICSI operations.