Safety and Efficacy of Pentazocine-midazolam Combination for Pain and Anxiety Relief in Radiofrequency Ablation Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Overview

Journal JGH Open

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2022 Aug 5

PMID 35928702

Authors

Masanori Nakano

Yuichi Torisu

Chika Nakagawa

Kaoru Ueda

Tomoya Kanai

Chisato Saeki

Tsunekazu Oikawa

Masayuki Saruta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Aim: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy is frequently used as first-line treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). RFA is often associated with pain; however, no definitive solution has been established for its relief. We retrospectively analyzed the safety and efficacy of the combination of pentazocine and midazolam to relieve pain experienced by HCC patients undergoing RFA.

Methods: We studied 77 patients with 98 HCCs treated with RFA between January 2015 and August 2019. Patients were divided into two groups: the sedative-free group, which included those who received pentazocine alone, and the pentazocine-midazolam group, which included those who received a combination of pentazocine and midazolam. The degrees of analgesia and sedation were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), respectively. Other parameters such as treatment time, awakening time, midazolam dosage, vital signs, local recurrence rate, and time to recurrence were also examined.

Results: The median NRS score and RASS score were significantly lower in the pentazocine-midazolam group. Ninety-five percent of patients in the pentazocine-midazolam group had no memory of the RFA session. The treatment time and awakening time were prolonged for the pentazocine-midazolam group. No significant differences in oxygen saturation, recurrence rates, and time to local recurrence were observed between groups.

Conclusion: A combination of pentazocine and midazolam is safe and effective for pain and anxiety relief experienced by patients undergoing RFA for local treatment of HCC.

Citing Articles

Comparison of sedation with pentazocine or pethidine hydrochloride for endoscopic ultrasonography in outpatients: A single-center retrospective study.

Urabe M, Ikezawa K, Seiki Y, Watsuji K, Kawamoto Y, Hirao T DEN Open. 2025; 5(1):e70048.

PMID: 39741901 PMC: 11687558. DOI: 10.1002/deo2.70048.

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