A Comparative Analysis of Nalbuphine and Fentanyl in Total Intravenous Anesthesia for Short Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Background: Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) is a method of general anesthesia characterized by the exclusive use of intravenous agents, completely excluding inhalational agents like nitrous oxide (Gas Anesthesia) [1]. TIVA, primarily employing a combination of Propofol and an opioid, has gained widespread popularity as an anesthesia technique. This study aims to evaluate and compare the analgesic efficacy of nalbuphine and fentanyl, along with their associated side effects, when used as adjuncts to Propofol in TIVA [2]. Methods: This research study involved 40 adult patients with American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Grade I/II classifications who were scheduled for minor surgical and gynecological procedures of short duration. The patients were randomly allocated into two equally-sized groups, consisting of 20 individuals each, using a statistical random number table. The groups were designated as follows: Group N, where patients received a preinduction medication of Inj. Nalbuphine at a dosage of 0.05 mg/kg, and Group F, where preinduction medication involved Inj. Fentanyl administered at a dosage of 1 mcg/kg [3]. Results: The fentanyl group exhibited superior control over hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure at intraoperative time points of 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. On the other hand, the nalbuphine group demonstrated enhanced postoperative analgesia, as evidenced by reduced scores on the Visual Analog Scale and a decrease in the incidence of respiratory depression. Conclusion: Fentanyl demonstrated superior intraoperative hemodynamic stability, while nalbuphine offered improved postoperative analgesia with a lower risk of respiratory depression.