To evaluate the efficacy of oxycodone for improvement of general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly patients.

A total of 160 patients of both sexes, aged 65-75 yr, with body mass index <30 kg/m², of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ-Ⅲ, scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were divided into 2 groups (n=80 each) using a random number table method: general anesthesia group (group GA) and oxycodone+ general anesthesia group (group OX+ GA). Anesthesia induction: propofol was given by closed-loop infusion at the initial target plasma concentration of 2 μg/ml, the target bispectral index (BIS) value was set at 50, and 2 min later remifentanil was given by target-controlled infusion at the target plasma concentration of 4 ng/ml, and cisatracurium 0.2 mg/kg was intravenously injected when BIS value was decreased to 70.Laryngeal mask airways were inserted and the patients were mechanically ventilated when BIS value was decreased to 50 and TOF ratio was decreased to 25%, and end-tidal pressure of carbon dioxide was maintained at 35-45 mmHg.Anesthesia maintenance: propofol was given by closed-loop infusion, the target BIS value was set at 50, cisatracurium 0.1 mg/kg was intravenously injected when TOF ratio was increased to 10%; remifentanil was given by target-controlled infusion at the target plasma concentration of 4-6 ng/ml.Oxycodone 0.07 mg/kg was intravenously injected at 5 min before stretching internal organs.Before anesthesia, at 5 min after laryngeal mask airway placement, at skin incision and while stretching internal organs, analgesia nociception index value and perfusion index value were recorded, the development of intraoperative cardiovascular events, emergence time, time for removal of laryngeal mask airway, time of post-anesthesia care unit stay and development of nausea and vomiting and back and shoulder pain within 48 h after surgery were also recorded.

Compared with group GA, the analgesia nociception index value and perfusion index value were significantly increased while stretching internal organs, and the incidence of intraoperative hypertension, tachycardia, and nausea and vomiting and back and shoulder pain within 48 h after surgery were decreased in group OX-GA (P<0.05).

Oxycodone can inhibit nociceptive stimuli, is helpful in maintaining stable hemodynamics and reduces postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under combined general anesthesia.

Oxycodone; Anesthesia, general; Cholecystectomy, laparoscopic