Sufentanil-Dezocine Combination in Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia for Postoperative Pain After Pancreatic Cancer Surgery: A Retrospective Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Purpose: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) regimen combining sufentanil and dezocine versus sufentanil alone for postoperative pain relief in pancreatic surgery patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study comparing perioperative outcomes, the postoperative incidence of moderate-severe pain at rest and during coughing, and adverse effects in patients undergoing pancreatic surgery who received sufentanil (sufentanil group, n=247) versus a combination of sufentanil and dezocine (combination group, n=704) for PCIA. Propensity score matching (1:3) was performed to balance the groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the demographic or perioperative outcomes between the two groups after matching. Within 48 hours after surgery, the incidence of moderate-severe pain at rest was significantly lower in the combination group (2.8%) compared to the sufentanil group (7.7%, P<0.05). Similarly, pain during coughing was significantly higher in the sufentanil group (30.0%) than in the combination group (23.6%, Conclusion: The combination of sufentanil and dezocine provides superior postoperative analgesia without increasing clinically relevant adverse effects, making it a promising option for pain management in pancreatic surgery patients. Further research is warranted to validate its routine clinical use.