BACKGROUNDSystemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been evaluated for their possible preemptive analgesic effects. The efficacy of flurbiprofen axetil for preemptive analgesia in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal carcinoma via the left thoracic approach needs further investigation. The aim of this study was to research the preemptive analgesic effects of flurbiprofen axetil in thoracic surgery, and the influence of preoperative administration on postoperative respiratory function.

METHODSThis randomized, double-blind, controlled trial enrolled 60 patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal carcinoma via the left thoracic approach. Anesthesia management was standardized. Each patient was randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg flurbiprofen axetil intravenously 15 minutes before incision (PA group) or intravenous normal saline as a control (C group). Postoperative analgesia was with sufentanil delivered by patient-controlled analgesia pump. Postoperative sufentanil consumption, visual analog scale pain scores, plasma levels of interleukin-8, and oxygenation index were measured.

RESULTSCompared with the preoperative baseline, postoperative patients in the PA group had no obvious increase in pain scores (P > 0.05), but patients in the C group had significantly increased pain scores (P < 0.05). Pain scores in the C group were significantly higher at 24 hours postoperatively than preoperatively. Intergroup comparisons showed lower visual analog scale scores at 2 - 24 hours postoperatively in the PA group than the C group (P < 0.05). Sufentanil consumption and plasma interleukin-8 levels at 2 and 12 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in the PA group than the C group (P < 0.05). The oxygenation index at 2 and 12 hours postoperatively was significantly higher in the PA group than the C group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntravenous flurbiprofen axetil appears to have a preemptive analgesic effect in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal carcinoma via the left thoracic approach, and appears to contribute to recovery of respiratory function and to reduction of the postoperative inflammatory reaction.