title: The analgesic effect of nefopam with fentanyl at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nefopam is a centrally acting analgesic that is used to control pain. The aim of this study was to find an appropriate dose of nefopam that demonstrates an analgesic effect when administered in continuous infusion with fentanyl at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly assigned to receive analgesia with fentanyl alone (50 µg, Group 1, n = 30), or with fentanyl in combination with nefopam 20 mg (Group 2, n = 30) or in combination with nefopam 40 mg (Group 3, n = 30) at the end of surgery. Pain and side effects were evaluated at 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 6 hours, and 12 hours after arrival in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain was statistically significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 at 10 minutes, 2 hours, and 6 hours after arrival in the PACU. Nausea was statistically significantly lower in Group 2 than in Groups 1 and 3 at 10 minutes after arrival in the PACU. Shivering was statistically significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1 at 10 minutes after arrival in the PACU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nefopam is a drug that can be safely used as an analgesic after surgery, and its side effects can be reduced when fentanyl 50 µg is injected with nefopam 20 mg.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Kwan
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cheong
keywords: fentanyl; laparoscopic cholecystectomy; nefopam; pain