Dezocine prevents sufentanil-induced cough during general anesthesia induction: A randomized controlled trial

Opioid-induced cough during induction of general anesthesia is a common phenomenon. Dezocine, a partial μ-receptors agonist and κ-receptors antagonist, has been documented effectively suppressing fentanyl-induced cough in general anesthesia induction. However, the effect of dezocine on sufentanil-induced cough is still unknown.

A total of 370 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I-II), aged 18-70 years, undergoing elective surgery, were randomly divided into a control group (group C) and a dezocine group (group D) (n=185 in each group). Patients received dezocine 0.1mg/kg or an equal volume of 0.9% normal saline 2 min prior to intravenous sufentanil (0.5 μg/kg). The incidence and reflex degree of cough in patients were evaluated within 2 min after the injection of sufentanil in anesthesia induction period.

No patient in group D had cough and 59 patients in group C had cough (severity of cough: mild, 7%; moderate, 11.4%; severe, 13.5%). The occurrence and reflex degree of cough in group D was significantly lower than that in group C (P=0.000). The highest heart rate (HR) and invasive blood pressure (IBP) values were higher in group C than those in group D (P<0.01) within 2 min after sufentanil administration, althought these values remained within safe limits.

The results of current study suggest that administration of Dezocine 0.1mg/kg may effectively prevent the occurrence and reflex degree of sufentanil-induced irritating cough in general anesthesia induction in patients.