Analgesic outcomes of tramadol alone and in combination with Butorphanol or Flurbiprofen Axetil after cesarean section: a retrospective study with propensity score matching analysis

Background The Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology recommends a multimodal analgesia regimen for cesarean delivery analgesia. This study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of tramadol alone and combined with butorphanol or flurbiprofen axetil after a cesarean section. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis based on the electronic medical records of a teaching hospital in China from January 2018 to January 2020. We collected data on demographic characteristics, anesthesia, analgesia strategy, and pain intensity postoperatively during the first 48 hours. Inadequate postoperative analgesia during this period was defined as an NRS score ≥ 4. We also collected data regarding off-bed activity and intestinal function recovery. Participants were classified into three groups according to analgesia regimens. Groups T, TF, and TB received tramadol, a mixture of tramadol and flurbiprofen axetil, and a combination of tramadol and butorphanol, respectively. Analgesic outcomes were compared using propensity score matching analysis. Results Data from 2323 cases of caesarean section were included in the analysis, and 521 pairs were matched in each group according to their propensity score. Compared with group T, The inadequate analgesia on pain at rest and pain at movement was lower in group TF (RR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.36–0.49, P = 0.001 and RR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.48–0.69, P < 0.001, respectively),and the incidence of inadequate control of pain at movement was higher in group TB (RR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.22–1.55, P < 0.001). Additionally, the percentage of off-bed activity at 2 days postoperatively was higher in group TB than in groups TF and T (78.7% vs. 68.5 and 78.7% vs. 64.9%, respectively, P < 0.001). The incidence of intestinal function recovery 2 days after cesarean delivery in group TB was higher than that in group TF (73.3% vs. 66.2%, P = 0.013). Conclusions Combining tramadol and flurbiprofen axetil could enhance the analgesic effect and be safely used for analgesia after a cesarean section. However, combining tramadol and butorphanol may produce an antagonistic effect.