The analgesic effect of tramadol combined with butorphanol on uterine cramping pain after repeat caesarean section: a randomized, controlled, double-blind study

Purpose This study aimed to explore the effect of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) using tramadol combined with butorphanol on uterine cramping pain in women undergoing repeat caesarean section. Methods A total of 126 patients, who were scheduled to undergo repeat caesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were included. PCIA using tramadol combined with butorphanol or sufentanil was randomly performed for postoperative pain control. Postoperative uterine cramping pain and wound pain within 48 h after surgery were evaluated. Postoperative analgesic consumption, early activity time, and length of hospital stay were also recorded and analyzed. Results Uterine cramping pain intensity in women undergoing repeat caesarean section was significantly higher compared with their wound pain (P < 0.05). The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score for uterine cramping pain in the tramadol-butorphanol group was significantly lower than that in the sufentanil group at rest, and at 6 h and 12 h after surgery. VAS scores for uterine cramping pain during movement at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after surgery in the tramadol-butorphanol group were also significantly lower than that in sufentanil group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS score for wound pain at the different time points between the tramadol-butorphanol and sufentanil groups (P > 0.05). Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with tramadol accelerated early rehabilitation and decreased the length of hospital stay (P < 0.05). Conclusion PCIA using tramadol combined with butorphanol provided a better analgesic effect and accelerated postoperative rehabilitation compared with sufentanil, and may be an optimal analgesic strategy for women undergoing repeat caesarean section. Clinical trial registration The trial was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) with ID: ChiCTR-1800014986.
Author(s): Qin Cai [sup.1] [sup.2], Hanlin Gong [sup.3], Mingbo Fan [sup.2], Wen Chen [sup.2], Lun Cai [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.417279.e, Department of Anesthesiology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, [...]