Letter to the Editor Regarding "Effect of Ropivacaine Intercostal Nerve Block Combined with Patient Controlled Intravenous Analgesia on Postoperative Analgesia After Breast Augmentation"

We read the recently published article "Effect of Ropivacaine Intercostal Nerve Block Combined with Patient Controlled Intravenous Analgesia on Postoperative Analgesia after Breast Augmentation" by You et al. We have noticed several issues in the methods and results of this study and would appreciate the responses from the authors. We question several aspects, opioid-sparing effect, sufentanil consumption, sample size evaluation, exclusion reasons, and side effects.

Clinical effects of dexmedetomidine versus sufentanil for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

AIM

To observe the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine for postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

METHODS

From June 2015 to May 2016, 50 patients undergoing LC were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: D (n = 25) and S (n = 25). In group D, the patients were given dexmedetomidine diluted to 100 mL in 0.9% saline at 0.2 μg/(kg•h) via a controlled intravenous analgesia pump. In group S, the patients were given sufentanil diluted to 100 mL in 0.9% saline at 1.5 μg/kg. The pain score on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Ramsay sedation score were recorded at 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h after the operation. The incidence rates of postoperative nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression, and dizziness, and the time to recovery of gastrointestinal function (time to first passage of flatus) were also recorded.

RESULTS

No patients received rescue analgesic agents. The VAS scores and Ramsay sedation scores at 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h after the operation showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with group S, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting was significantly reduced, and the time to the first passage of flatus was shorter in group D (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of respiratory depression and dizziness were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

During the postoperative analgesia after LC, dexmedetomidine can achieve similar clinical analgesia effects to sufentanil with a lower rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting and shorter time to recovery of gastrointestinal function.