According to a novel study published in ‘Journal of Clinical Medicine’, the use of fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with nefopam 80 mg as an adjuvant did not have a higher analgesic effect following laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.

Postoperative pain poses as a clinical challenge in laparoscopic surgical procedures and perioperative management. This retrospective study evaluated the effectiveness of nefopam as an adjuvant in PCA for severe post-operative pain in patients undertaking the laparoscopy for colorectal cancer (also known as bowel, colon cancer, or rectal cancer).

The medical records of 120 patients were divided into 2 groups with 60 patients each in nefopam group (patients who were administered 80 mg of nefopam as an adjuvant in fentanyl PCA) and non-nefopam group (patients who were not administered 80 mg of nefopam). A thorough evaluation of data (concerning demographic, clinical features, and anesthetic; pain severity and opioid usage) at the postoperative anesthesia care unit (PACU) was done.

As revealed, there was no difference in the pain score and opioid administration at the PACU or on 1st, 3rd, or 5th day of the surgery. No difference was observed in case of day of PCA cessation, time to pass flatus, hospital stay duration, and occurrence of nausea/vomiting, dizziness, and headache.

Future studies are required to determine a safe and effective dose administration routine for nefopam to be used as an adjuvant to fentanyl or other opioid pain medications in PCA, noted the study researchers.