Sufentanil induced more effective analgesia than tramadol and dezocine for immediate postoperative pain management after thyroid surgery

Background: It is important for patients to receive effective postoperative analgesia that exerts few side effects. In this study, a double-blinded and randomized study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of sufentanil, tramadol, and dezocine for postoperative pain management after thyroid surgery. Methods: A total of 90 ASA I-II patients undergoing thyroid surgery were randomly separated into three equal groups, which were intravenously administered 0.2 mu g. kg(-1) sufentanil (S group), 2 mg. kg(-1) tramadol (T group), or 0.1 mg. kg(-1) dezocine (D group). Visual analog scale (VAS), overall pain performance scores (OPPS), Bruggemann comfort scale (BCS), Observer's assessment of alertness/sedation (OAA/S), and Ramsay sedation scale (RSS) were assessed after extubation. The time of palinesthesia, the time of extubation, and side effects were recorded. Results: The VAS scores were lower in the S group than in the D group at 5 min after extubation and were lower in the S group than in the T group at 30 min after extubation. The extubation time in the S group was longer than in the D group. The BCS, OPPS, OAA/S, and RSS scores were no difference between the three groups. The hemodynamic parameters remained no intergroup differences. No differences on consciousness recovery and other side effects were observed between the three groups. Conclusions: The administration of sufentanil induced more effective analgesia than tramadol and dezocine for postoperative pain management after thyroidectomy. Sufentanil transiently depressed respiratory and delayed the extubation compared with dezocine.