Tramadol versus fentanyl during propofol-based deep sedation for uterine dilatation and curettage: a prospective...

Dilatation and curettage (D&C) is a common day-care procedure in obstetrics and gynecology, with patients discharged after a brief hospital stay on the same day of the surgery. Although it has a short duration, severe pain occurs during the procedure. Therefore, this surgical procedure requires an anesthetic to provide adequate analgesia, rapid onset, and rapid recovery. The main objective of the present study was to compare the analgesic effectiveness and safety of tramadol with those of fentanyl during D&C.

The study comprised 100 women with American Society of Anesthesiologists classification I-II who were scheduled for a D&C procedure. Baseline anesthesia was maintained with 1 mg/kg propofol, and the patients were then randomly allocated to receive tramadol 1 mg/kg (Group T, n = 50) or fentanyl 1 μg/kg (Group F, n = 50). Hemodynamic variables, sedation, pain, the Aldrete recovery score, and side-effects were recorded.

SpO₂ levels in Group F in the 5th min and at the end of the procedure were significantly lower than those in Group T (P = 0.024 and 0.021, respectively).

Tramadol provides similar analgesic efficacy to fentanyl. Furthermore, tramadol may provide better respiratory stability in patients undergoing a D&C procedure.