At our institution, a study has recently demonstrated that intraoperative infusion of remifentanil is associated with development of clinically relevant acute opioid tolerance in adolescents undergoing scoliosis surgery. This results in increased morphine consumption which in turn is associated with increased incidence of side effects such as respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting, pruritus, ileus and urinary retention. All of these side effects can result in increased consumption of rescue medications with the additional potential for increased duration of patient stay. Any measures that can be introduced to decrease the development of acute opioid tolerance in this patient population would have significant impact on patient morbidity, patient comfort and possibly duration of patient stay.