Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effect of nalbuphine on alleviating intravenous injection pain caused by propofol during painless gastrointestinal endoscopy.Methods 100 patients (54 males and 46 females) who were selectively hospitalized and underwent painless gastrointestinal endoscopy were chosen, with the age from 20 to 65 years, the body mass index (BMI) from 19 to 26 kg/m2, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ. According to the random number table, they were divided into two groups, namely naborphine combined with propofol group (group N) and control group (group C), with 50 cases in each group. 0.15 mg/kg nalbuphine was injected intravenously in group N, while the same volume of normal saline was injected intravenously in group C. After 3 min, intravenous injection of 1.50 ~ 2.00 mg/kg propofol was given for both groups, and gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed after loss of eyelash reflexes. 0.50 ~ 1.00 mg/kg propofol could be added appropriately in accordance with the patients’ swallowing reflexes and body motion conditions. The incidence of propofol-induced injection pain, the incidence of propofol-induced injection pain at different body parts, the severity of propofol-induced injection pain, recovery time, inspection time, propofol dosage, and the occurence of relevant adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The proportions of the incidence of propofol-induced injection pain, the incidence of intravenous injection pain at the back of the hand, and mild to moderate pain after intravenous injection of propofol in group N were all significantly lower than those in group C (P < 0.05). The recovery time in group N was shorter than that in group C, the propofol dosage in group N was less than that in group C (P < 0.05). One case in group N had nausea and vomiting, and one case in group C had bradycardia. Adverse reactions such as aspiration, hypoxemia, hypotension, and thrombophlebitis did not occur in both groups.Conclusion Pretreatment with 0.15 mg/kg nalbuphine can alleviate the pain caused by intravenous injection of propofol, and naborphine combined with propofol can shorten recovery time and reduce propofol dosage in painless gastrointestinal endoscopy, so it is safe and effective.