Feasibility of using oxycodone as the sole opioid for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia in minor/moderate surgery: a prospective, observational, descriptive study

OBJECTIVES: This study presented the feasibility of oxycodone as the sole opioid for general anaesthesia in minor/moderate surgery. METHODS: In this prospective, observational, descriptive study, 62 patients were enrolled and received intravenous oxycodone as the sole opioid for the induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. We observed all of these patients to determine whether oxycodone alone could provide sufficient intraoperative and postoperative analgesia, as well as to record the extubation times and adverse events. RESULTS: A total oxycodone dose of 0.316 ± 0.05 mg/kg was used for induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia. The dose could maintain haemodynamic stability during surgery and good postoperative analgesia. Oxycodone caused deep sedation (nine patients had Ramsey sedation scores ≥4), leading to respiratory depression and long stays in the post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU). The extubation time (16.9 ± 6.4 minutes) increased with increasing oxycodone doses. CONCLUSION: Oxycodone can be used as the sole opioid for general anaesthesia in minor/moderate surgery. However, care should be taken because of its deep sedation effect. Trial registration: This study is registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn): ChiCTR-opc-16009175