Flurbiprofen axetil reduces postoperative sufentanil consumption and enhances postoperative analgesic effects in patients with colorectal cancer surgery.

To investigate the effects of different strategies of flurbiprofen axetil (FA) administration on postoperative pain and sufentanil (SF) consumption after open colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Forty patients undergoing elective CRC resection were divided into two groups (n = 20 each). Patients in the F50+50 group received 50 mg of intravenous FA 30 min before skin incision and six hours after the first dose; patients in the F100 group received 100 mg of intravenous FA 30 min before skin incision. Perioperative plasma FA (CFA) and SF concentrations (CSF) were determined. Analgesic and sedative efficacy were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), Bruggman Comfort Scale (BCS), and Ramsay sedation scale. The time to the first PCIA trigger, the number of patients that pressed the PCIA trigger within 24 h after surgery, and the cumulative doses of SF consumption within 6 and 24 h after surgery were recorded. At postoperative 6 and 24 h, CFA was significantly higher, CSF was significantly lower, and the number of patients that pressed the PCIA trigger and the consumption of SF were significantly lower in the F50+50 group compared with the F100 group. At postoperative 4 h, VAS and BCS were significantly lower in the F50+50 group compared with the F100 group (P < 0.05). An administration strategy that maintains a relatively high plasma FA concentration at 6-24 h post-operatively may reduce postoperative inflammatory pain and SF-requirement in patients undergoing CRC resection.