Ulinastatin cuts opioid use and boosts recovery post-hip surgery

With opioid use rising in postoperative care, finding efficient and safer alternatives is important. To fill this gap, a study published in the "Journal of Pain Research" examined whether Ulinastatin could be a game-changer for postsurgical pain relief and reduce the dependency on opioids. In this randomized controlled trial involving 108 hip replacement patients, the experimental group with 56 participants received standard pain relief plus 60 International units (IU) of Ulinastatin.

Contrarily, the control group with 40 participants was treated with only standard pain relief. Researchers compared opioid use at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery, along with patient pain ratings, satisfaction, and adverse events. The Ulinastatin group used fewer opioids (54.5 mg) compared to the standard treatment group (66.6 mg) within the first 24 hours. The occurrence of adverse reactions was also lower in the Ulinastatin group. Both groups had similar post-discharge satisfaction levels.

Notably, significant differences in C-reactive protein levels were observed between the groups immediately and 6 hours after surgery. Ulinastatin effectively reduced opioid use within 72 hours after surgery while maintaining good pain control and lowering adverse reactions. It presents itself as a promising option for improving postoperative pain management and reducing opioid-related risks.