ABSTRACT
Objective:To preliminarily evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nalbuphine for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) after cesarean section.Methods:This study was a single arm clinical trial.Sixty parturients, aged 20-44 yr, weighing 50-80 kg, of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status ⅠorⅡ, scheduled for cesarean section with epidural anesthesia, were enrolled in this study.PCIA was performed when visual analogue scale (VAS) score for postoperative pain ≥3 points following cesarean section.A bolus of nalbuphine 10 mg was intravenously injected as a loading dose.PCIA pump solution contained 110 mg nalbuphine diluted to 200 ml with normal saline.The pump was set up with a background infusion at a rate of 4 ml/h, 2 ml bolus dose and 15 min lockout interval.The VAS scores for pain at rest and during activity and uterine contraction pain, Ramsay sedation scores and adverse reactions were observed within 48 h after surgery.Results:The VAS scores for pain at rest and during activity and uterine contraction pain were all ≤3 points, the Ramsay scores were maintained at 2-4 points, hemodynamic parameters were maintained in the normal range, and no adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, hyperhidrosis, dizziness, pruritus, and respiratory depression occurred.Conclusion:PCIA with nalbuphine given according to the method mentioned above has good feasibility when used for analgesia following cesarean section.