Analgesic effect of intraoperative sufentanil on postoperative pain in patients undergoing robot-assisted urologic surgery: a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis

Background: Robot-assisted urologic surgery is associated with reduced intraoperative bleeding and shortened hospital stays; however, postoperative pain remains concerning. Thus, the authors investigated whether intraoperative sufentanil is more effective than remifentanil in reducing postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. Methods: Patients undergoing robot-assisted urologic surgery (March 2023 to March 2024) were divided into the sufentanil or remifentanil groups and matched by propensity score. The primary outcome was the distribution of pain severity after surgery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores and rescue analgesic consumption. Results: < 0.001). Conclusions: Intraoperative sufentanil was associated with lower postoperative pain and analgesic consumption than was remifentanil in patients undergoing robot-assisted urologic surgery.