Effect of nalbuphine on analgesia and pain factors after gastric cancer resection

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent tumor in the digestive system, with around one million new cases reported annually, ranking it as the third most common malignancy. Reducing pain is a key research focus. This study evaluates the effect of nalbuphine on the analgesic effect and the expression of pain factors in patients after radical resection.

AIM

To provide a reference for postoperative analgesia methods.

METHODS

One hundred eight patients with GC, admitted between January 2022 and June 2024, underwent radical gastrectomy. They received a controlled analgesia pump and a transverse abdominis muscle plane block, divided into two groups of 54 patients in each group. The control group received sufentanil, while the observation group received nalbuphine as an analgesic. Postoperative analgesic effects, pain factor expression, and adverse effects were compared.

RESULTS

The resting pain and activity pain scores in the observation group at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours were significantly lower than those in the control group. Additionally, the number of presses and consumption of the observation group at 48 hours were lower than those of the control group; and the response rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The prostaglandin E2, substance P, and serotonin levels 24 hours after the observation group were lower than those in the control group, and the incidence of adverse reactions was 5.56% lower than 22.22% in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that nalbuphine enhances postoperative multimodal analgesia in patients with radical GC, effectively improving postoperative analgesic effect, relieving postoperative resting and active pain, and reducing postoperative pain factor expression, demonstrating its potential for clinical application.

Keywords: Nalbuphine; Radical resection of gastric cancer; Multimodal analgesia; Clinical treatment; Tumor

Core Tip: Nalbuphine, recognized for its potent analgesic properties, plays a crucial role in significantly enhancing postoperative pain management for patients who have undergone radical gastrectomy. Nalbuphine stands out due to its lower frequency of adverse reactions compared to other analgesics, which is a significant advantage in clinical settings. This lower incidence of side effects, coupled with its efficacy, positions nalbuphine as a promising candidate for improving patient recovery and overall comfort in the postoperative period, potentially leading to better patient outcomes and satisfaction.