Multimodal analgesic regimen is associated with earlier bowel recovery in infants undergoing liver transplantation: a cohort study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: This study aims to compare the effects of a multimodal analgesia regimen including sufentanil, esketamine, and dexmedetomidine with the traditional morphine-only analgesia approach on postoperative bowel recovery in pediatric liver transplant patients. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. The medical records of a total of 82 infants who underwent liver transplantation at Renji Hospital, from September 2022 to March 2023 were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the postoperative analgesia regimen: the morphine group (M group), which used morphine only, and the multimodal analgesia group (MMA group), which used sufentanil in combination with esketamine and dexmedetomidine. Results: The patients' ages ranged from 4 to 12 months, and the mean preoperative pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) scores were 18.7 and 21.9. General linear model analysis revealed that the MMA group had a significantly shorter time to first bowel movement and shorter mechanical ventilation duration. Multivariate analysis further indicated that the use of multimodal analgesia significantly accelerated time to first defecation by approximately 20.6 h. Conclusion: Compared to using morphine alone for postoperative analgesia, the combination of sufentanil, esketamine, and dexmedetomidine for postoperative analgesia in liver transplant infants is more beneficial for brecovery and facilitates early postoperative extubation.
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Ling Zhu, Jiabei He, Leiqing Gao, Yuxiao Deng, Bo Qi
Institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Renji Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223333983