Comparative efficacy of butorphanol versus nalbuphine for balanced anaesthesia and post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery

This randomized double blind study was conducted in 60 patients, aged 20-60 years of age, of ASA physical status I and II scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic surgeries. They were randomized and allotted into two groups. Group B received Inj Butorphanol 20 mcg/kg IV (n=30) and Group N received Inj Nalbuphine 0.2mg/kg IV (n=30), before induction of anesthesia with propofol. Intra-operative haemodynamic stability was assessed by monitioring heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Post-operatively, pain was assessed using the VAS scale, and sedation was assessed using the Ramsay Sedation Score. Heart rate and diastolic blood pressures were lower in Group B after intubation, after insufflation of CO2, after 30 minutes, after 45 minutes, after extubation and during the post-operative period. Systolic blood pressure was lower in Group B after intubation, after insufflation of CO2, after 30 minutes and after 45 minutes. VAS pain scores were significantly lower in Group B at 6 hours and 8 hours post-operatively. Ramsay sedation scores were higher in Group B at 1hr, 2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs and 8hrs post- operatively. From this study, it was concluded that Inj. Butorphanol 20 ?g /kg was more efficacious when compared to Inj. Nalbuphine 0.2mg/kg as an analgesic for use in laparoscopic surgeries because of its ability to produce prolonged analgesia and better hemodynamic stability.