Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Miaomiao Xiong,1,* Yao Liu,2,* Yingsi Liang,1,* Hailang Wang,1 Lili Zhang,1 Zhongjun Zhang,1 Ming Fang2 1Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pain Management, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan...

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Main Authors: Xiong M, Liu Y, Liang Y, Wang H, Zhang L, Zhang Z, Fang M
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Pain Research
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Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/opioid-free-versus-opioid-sparing-anesthesia-for-postoperative-pain-an-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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author Xiong M
Liu Y
Liang Y
Wang H
Zhang L
Zhang Z
Fang M
author_facet Xiong M
Liu Y
Liang Y
Wang H
Zhang L
Zhang Z
Fang M
author_sort Xiong M
collection DOAJ
description Miaomiao Xiong,1,* Yao Liu,2,* Yingsi Liang,1,* Hailang Wang,1 Lili Zhang,1 Zhongjun Zhang,1 Ming Fang2 1Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pain Management, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ming Fang, Department of Pain Management, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 1000 hefeng Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, 214000, People’s Republic of China, Email fangmingjdfy@163.com Zhongjun Zhang, Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 1000 hefeng Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, 214000, People’s Republic of China, Email zzj315@vip.sina.comPurpose: Enhanced recovery after surgery emphasizes effective analgesia while minimal opioid use. Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) and opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) have been shown to enhance recovery by reducing opioid-induced side effects. This study compared the efficacy of OFA and OSA in managing postoperative pain and recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).Patients and Methods: A single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 86 adults undergoing LC. Patients received either OSA (sufentanil/remifentanil) or OFA (no opioids). Both groups received propofol, esketamine, dexmedetomidine, and erector spinae plane block. The primary outcome was pain area under the curve (AUCVAS) within 36 hours postsurgery. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics, recovery times and bowel function.Results: Eighty-one patients (41 and 40 in the OFA and OSA groups, respectively) completed the study. The AUCVAS scores were similar between the OFA (7.3 ± 1.4) and OSA (6.9 ± 1.3) groups (P = 0.201), the difference in AUCVAS between the two groups was 0.384 (95% CI: − 0.296, 1.064), which was significantly below the preset noninferiority threshold of 1.0, demonstrating the noninferiority of OFA. While early pain scores within the first 12 hours postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge were slightly higher in the OFA group, but overall pain control was sufficient in both groups. The VAS scores from PACU discharge to 36 hours postoperatively, intraoperative hemodynamic variables, and the need for rescue analgesia were comparable. OFA patients experienced a faster bowel recovery (13.8 ± 2.4 vs 15.5 ± 2.3 hours, P = 0.002). Recovery times, postoperative QoR-40 scores, and patient satisfaction were similar between the groups.Conclusion: OFA is noninferior to OSA in pain management and hemodynamic stability, with faster bowel recovery after LC.Keywords: opioid-free anesthesia, opioid-sparing anesthesia, postoperative pain, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, randomized controlled trial
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spelling doaj-art-1b8899ef4f084a82bc0ff44fd38cc59a2025-08-20T02:56:01ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Pain Research1178-70902025-04-01Volume 1821372146102294Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled TrialXiong MLiu YLiang YWang HZhang LZhang ZFang MMiaomiao Xiong,1,* Yao Liu,2,* Yingsi Liang,1,* Hailang Wang,1 Lili Zhang,1 Zhongjun Zhang,1 Ming Fang2 1Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Pain Management, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ming Fang, Department of Pain Management, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 1000 hefeng Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, 214000, People’s Republic of China, Email fangmingjdfy@163.com Zhongjun Zhang, Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, 1000 hefeng Road, Binhu District, Wuxi, 214000, People’s Republic of China, Email zzj315@vip.sina.comPurpose: Enhanced recovery after surgery emphasizes effective analgesia while minimal opioid use. Opioid-free anesthesia (OFA) and opioid-sparing anesthesia (OSA) have been shown to enhance recovery by reducing opioid-induced side effects. This study compared the efficacy of OFA and OSA in managing postoperative pain and recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).Patients and Methods: A single-center, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 86 adults undergoing LC. Patients received either OSA (sufentanil/remifentanil) or OFA (no opioids). Both groups received propofol, esketamine, dexmedetomidine, and erector spinae plane block. The primary outcome was pain area under the curve (AUCVAS) within 36 hours postsurgery. Secondary outcomes included hemodynamics, recovery times and bowel function.Results: Eighty-one patients (41 and 40 in the OFA and OSA groups, respectively) completed the study. The AUCVAS scores were similar between the OFA (7.3 ± 1.4) and OSA (6.9 ± 1.3) groups (P = 0.201), the difference in AUCVAS between the two groups was 0.384 (95% CI: − 0.296, 1.064), which was significantly below the preset noninferiority threshold of 1.0, demonstrating the noninferiority of OFA. While early pain scores within the first 12 hours postanesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge were slightly higher in the OFA group, but overall pain control was sufficient in both groups. The VAS scores from PACU discharge to 36 hours postoperatively, intraoperative hemodynamic variables, and the need for rescue analgesia were comparable. OFA patients experienced a faster bowel recovery (13.8 ± 2.4 vs 15.5 ± 2.3 hours, P = 0.002). Recovery times, postoperative QoR-40 scores, and patient satisfaction were similar between the groups.Conclusion: OFA is noninferior to OSA in pain management and hemodynamic stability, with faster bowel recovery after LC.Keywords: opioid-free anesthesia, opioid-sparing anesthesia, postoperative pain, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, randomized controlled trialhttps://www.dovepress.com/opioid-free-versus-opioid-sparing-anesthesia-for-postoperative-pain-an-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPRopioid-free anesthesiaopioid-sparing anesthesiapostoperative painlaparoscopic cholecystectomyrandomized controlled trial
spellingShingle Xiong M
Liu Y
Liang Y
Wang H
Zhang L
Zhang Z
Fang M
Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Pain Research
opioid-free anesthesia
opioid-sparing anesthesia
postoperative pain
laparoscopic cholecystectomy
randomized controlled trial
title Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Opioid-Free versus Opioid-Sparing Anesthesia for Postoperative Pain and Early Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort opioid free versus opioid sparing anesthesia for postoperative pain and early recovery after laparoscopic cholecystectomy a randomized controlled trial
topic opioid-free anesthesia
opioid-sparing anesthesia
postoperative pain
laparoscopic cholecystectomy
randomized controlled trial
url https://www.dovepress.com/opioid-free-versus-opioid-sparing-anesthesia-for-postoperative-pain-an-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JPR
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