OBJECTIVET To evaluate the effect of postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil combined with sufentanyl in modulating the metabolism of patients undergoing operations for intestinal carcinoma.

METHODSEighty patients undergoing operations for intestinal carcinoma were randomly assigned into two groups, in group A, the patients received postoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil combined with sufentanyl, and in group B, only sufentanyl was given. Parenteral nutrition with restricted nitrogen resource was given in both groups. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), body temperature and postoperative nitrogen balance were monitored postoperatively, and the concentrations of plasma cortisol, epinephrine, tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured perioperatively.

RESULTSVAS at 24, 48, 72 h after operation were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The changes in body temperature, nitrogen balance, TNF-alpha and IL-6 after operation were more obvious in group B than in group A, but significantly improved on postoperative day 3 (P<0.05) in the two groups. Flurbiprofen did not result in postoperative increase in cortisol and epinephrine.

CONCLUSIONPostoperative analgesia with flurbiprofen axetil and sufentanyl or with sufentanyl alone produces similar postoperative analgesic effect in patients undergoing operation for intestinal carcinoma, but the former protocol offers better interventional effect on protein catabolism and promotes nitrogen balance.