Effect of perioperative flurbiprofen axetil on long‐term survival of patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an anti‐inflammatory response, but it remains unclear whether the perioperative use of flurbiprofen axetil can influence postoperative tumor recurrence and survival in esophageal carcinoma. We aimed to explore the effect of perioperative intravenous flurbiprofen axetil on recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent surgery for esophageal carcinoma between December 2009 and May 2015 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital. Patients were categorized into a non‐NSAIDs group (did not receive flurbiprofen axetil), single‐dose NSAIDs group (received a single dose of flurbiprofen axetil intravenously), and multiple‐dose NSAIDs group (received multiple doses of flurbiprofen). RESULTS: A total of 847 eligible patients were enrolled. Univariable and multivariable analyses revealed that the intraoperative use of flurbiprofen was associated with long‐term RFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42–0.76, p = .001) and prolonged OS (HR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.38–0.63, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative flurbiprofen axetil therapy may be associated with prolonged RFS and OS in patients with esophageal carcinoma undergoing thoracoscopic esophagectomy.