Abstract: Objective The present study was designed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol on postoperative analgesia and recovery for patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) in parturients undergoing cesarean section. Methods Eighty-four parturients scheduled for elective caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were randomly allocated into two groups. Control group: physiological saline infusion (0.5 ?g/kg) after delivery and butorphanol (10 mg) in PCIA. Experimental group: dexmedetomidine (0.5 ?g/kg ) infusion after delivery and dexmedetomidine (200 ?g) with butorphanol (10 mg) in PCIA. Hemodynamic variables, the visual analogue score (VAS), the sedation score, side effects, the total pump-press number and additional analgesics cases were recorded. The quality of recovery was evaluated by using a 40-item quality of recovery questionnaire (QoR-40) and a 9 questions fatigue score (FFS). Results Compared with control group, the VAS scores, the total pump-press number, the incidence of side effects and the FSS scores in experimental group was significantly decreased (P <0.05). In addition, the QoR-40 score at POD3 was significantly increased (P <0.05). Conclusions Dexmedetomidine combined with butorphanol for PCIA after caesarean section decreases the consumption of butorphanol, promotes postoperative analgesia, alleviates fatigue, and improves postoperative recovery.

Key words: dexmedetomidine, butorphanol, patient-controlled intravenous analgesia, postoperative analgesia, postoperative recovery