Preoperative Butorphanol Improves Anaesthesia Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Transforaminal Discectomy: A Single-Centre Study.

Aim: This study aims to analyze the effect of the preoperative use of butorphanol on patients who underwent percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED), providing additional insights into the selection of an anaesthesia regimen for PTED.

Methods: The medical records of 106 patients who underwent PTED in our hospital from February 2021 to May 2023 were selected for retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into a reference group (n = 56; no preoperative medication) and a research group (n = 50; preoperative intravenous butorphanol) based on whether they were using butorphanol. Moreover, the anaesthesia sedation effects and pain levels at different moments in the two groups were compared.

Results: The Ramsay Sedation Scale (RSS) scores of patients in the research group at Time (T) 1-4 were significantly higher than those of the reference group (p < 0.001). At 6 h postoperatively, the numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were significantly higher than preoperative scores in both groups (p < 0.001). The NRS scores of patients in the research group were significantly lower than those of the reference group at 6 h postoperatively (p < 0.001). Central venous pressure (CVP) and heart rate (HR) levels in the study group were significantly lower than those in the reference group at the T1-T4 stage, while percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO₂) was significantly higher than that in the reference group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences in respiratory rate and the incidence of intraoperative adverse reactions were observed between the two groups (p > 0.05). A significant difference in Iowa Surgery Anesthesia Satisfaction Scale (ISAS) scores exists between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The preoperative use of butorphanol in patients undergoing PTED may effectively enhance intraoperative sedation and reduce postoperative pain.