[Use of buprenorphine after right hepatectomy]

Ten patients who underwent surgery (5 right hepatectomy and 5 colectomy) for cancer participated in a clinical controlled study. They were treated with buprenorphine (i.v. slow infusion) to relieve postsurgical pain. We found an increased urinary excretion of this drug in patients who underwent hepatectomy as compared with patients who underwent colectomy. However no differences in the occurrence of side-effects and/or in the therapeutic effect were observed between the two groups. We conclude that buprenorphine can be effectively and safely used also in patients with a resection of liver parenchyma.