Abstract:Objective To evaluate the effect of different dosages of Butorphanol preemptive analgesia by nasal administration on the incidence of postoperative shivering during recovery period in senile patients with radical gastrectomy or radical resection of colon carcinoma. Methods Totally 360 elderly patients selected for radical gastrectomy or radical resection of colon carcinoma under general anesthesia were randomly divided into five groups utilizing random number table (72 in each group): group B1 (0.005 mg/kg of Butorphanol), group B2 (0.010 mg/kg of Butorphanol), group B3 (0.020 mg/kg of Butorphanol), group B4 (0.030 mg/kg of Butorphanol) and group C (equal volume of physiological saline, control group). At 10 min before induction of anesthesia, the patients in the groups B1, B2, B3 and B4 received corresponding amount of Butorphanol by nasal administration. The patients in the group C received the same volume of normal saline. The operation time, recovery time after anesthesia, extubation time and residence time in PACU, amount of Sulfentanyl and Propofol during operation and incidences of nausea and vomiting,laryngeal spasm and respiratory depression were observed and recorded; and the postoperative shivering rating during recovery period and oral analgesia scores 5 min after extubation were assessed. Results Compared with the groups B1 and C, the amount of Sulfentanyl was decreasd obviously, and the incidences of nausea and vomiting, respiratory depression and laryngeal spasm during postoperative recovery period, and postoperative shivering rating during recovery period and oral analgesia scores 5 min after extubation were reduced significantly in the groups B2, B3 and B4 (P < 0.05). Compared with the groups B1, B4 and C, the recovery time after anesthesia, extubation time and residence time in PACU were shortened obviously in the groups B2 and B3 (P < 0.05). Conclusions Butorphanol preemptive analgesia by nasal administration with injection amount of 0.010-0.020 mg/kg can reduce the incidence of postoperative shivering during recovery period in senile patients with radical gastrectomy or radical resection of colon carcinoma, moreover, nausea and vomiting and some other complications are also significantly reduced, furthmore,there is no delayed recovery.