This article is mentioned in:

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in men and ninth in women, making HCC the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide (1). According to global epidemiological statistics, the number of deaths of hepatocellular cancer every year has reached >700,000 (2). It has been reported (3) that the mortality rate of hepatocellular cancer has been increasing in many parts of the world. However, the mortality rate has decreased in some Asian countries (3) because of the progress in hepatocellular cancer treatment.

HCC surgical treatment has become the most commonly used and effective method for the treatment of HCC, due to its application and development (4). The severe pain after operation, if not intervened, leads to stress and suppression of the immune function, which have serious effects on the patient prognosis. Thus, effective postoperative analgesia is needed (5). Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) is an intravenous drug-using method for analgesia, which is easy to implement and with a wide range of drugs to use. The advantages are quick onset and wide application. At the same time, PCIA's disadvantage lies in the wide range of drugs, i.e., the analgesic effect of different drugs is quite different. For example, the effect of dizoxacin is good, but the dependence is strong; pethidine works quickly, but the analgesic effect is general (6). Hydromorphone is a semi-synthetic derivative of morphine, which has good analgesic effect; however, at the same time, it has some side effects, such as mental confusion and diarrhea (7). Sufentanil is a powerful opioid that provides long-term central analgesia and has been successfully used in postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, a study has shown that the analgesic effect of this drug alone on liver operation and other traumatic operations is limited (8). It has been reported that 0.10% of ropivacaine combined with 15 µg/ml of hydromorphone has good analgesic effect, mild motor block and high safety (9). Considering the short analgesia time of ropivacaine (10), it has been shown that dizoxine combined with sufentanil can reduce the inhibitory effect on NK cells and CD4+ activity, and inhibit the activity of CD8+ cells (11). In the present study, whether hydromorphone combined with sufentanil could have a similar outcome, and the effect of this combination on pain, while affecting the levels of immune factors, were investigated.

The clinical effect and safety evaluation of hydromorphone combined with sufentanil in PCIA for patients with HCC, as well as their effect on serum immune factors, were compared with those of sufentanil treatment alone, in order to clarify the analgesic effect of hydromorphone and provide reference for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Patients and methods

General data

Clinical data from 385 patients with HCC (40–60 years of age), treated in the Hunan Provincial People's Hospital (Changsha, China) from February 2015 to September 2018, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the method of analgesia used. A total of 205 patients received the combination of hydromorphone and sufentanil PCIA (study group), and 180 patients were treated with sufentanil PCIA (control group). The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital. All patients and their families were informed by letter or telephone, and signed informed consents were obtained from the patients and/or guardians.

Inclusion criteria: All patients were diagnosed with HCC by pathology and met the diagnostic criteria (12); all patients underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy; no radiotherapy, chemotherapy or related immunotherapy was performed before serum specimen acquisition; patients had complete clinical data.

Exclusion criteria: Patients with abnormal kidney and cardiopulmonary function; pregnant or breast-feeding patients; patients with mental illness or abnormal brain judgment.

Analgesia method

In the control group, the analgesic pump was filled with sufentanil and tropisetron. The details are as follows: 2 µg/kg of sufentanil (SFDA approval no. H20120094; Yichang Renfu Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.) and 5 mg of tropisetron (SFDA approval no. H20050535; Qilu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.). In the study group, the analgesic pump was filled with hydromorphone, sufentanil and tropisetron. The details are as follows: 5 mg of hydromorphone (SFDA approval no. H20120100; Yichang Renfu Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.) and the dosage of sufentanil and tropisetron was the same as that of the control group. The drugs in both groups were diluted into 100 ml with normal saline and the loading dose was 5 ml; the continuous dose was 2 ml/h and the single dose of PCIA was 2 ml.

Observation indicators

The general data of the two groups were collected and compared, including sex, age, body mass index (BMI), tumor location, tumor size, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), operative time and others.

The visual analogue scale (VAS) and numeric sedation scale (NSS) scores at 12 and 24 h after operation were recorded in both groups, as well as the and satisfaction score at 24 h after operation. VAS system: 0 Point, no pain; 1–2 points, occasionally mild pain; 3–4 points, often mild pain; 5–9 points, obvious pain; 10 points, intolerable pain. NSS system: 1 Point, not quiet, restlessness; 2 points, quiet cooperation; 3 points, lethargy, patient able to follow instructions; 4 points, sleep state, but the patient can be awakened; 5 points, slow respiratory response; 6 points, deep sleep state, the patient can't be called to wake up. Satisfaction score system: 1 Point, unsatisfied; 2 points, basically satisfied; 3 points, satisfied; 4 points, quite satisfied.

Peripheral venous blood (1.5 ml) was collected into an Eppendorf (EP) tube and heparin was used for anticoagulation. Another four EP tubes were used and numbered as 1, 2, 3 and 4. A total of 150 µl of venous blood were added into each EP tube. Tube 1 was filled with antibodies IgG-FITC/IgG-PE (10 µl each); tube 2 was filled with antibodies CD3-FITC/CD4-PE (10 µl each); tube 3 was filled with antibodies CD3-FITC/CD8-PE (10 µl each); tube 4 was filled with antibodies CD3-FITC/CD16+56-PE (10 µl each). All tubes were placed in the dark for 20 min. Hemolysin (2 ml) was added, and the tubes were left for 10 min in the dark. Next, after centrifugation at 1,000 × g for 5 min at 4°C, the precipitate was rinsed with PBS. After a second centrifugation at 1,000 × g for 5 min at 4°C, the supernatant was discarded. A total of 3 ml of 1% paraformaldehyde were added before the detection by FACScan flow cytometer (BD Diagnostics). CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD16+56 detection kits were purchased from Beckman Coulter, Inc. The analysis software used was FACScan analysis software embedded in FACScan flow cytometer.

In addition, the postoperative hospitalization time, first flatulence time, first defecation time and first ambulation time were recorded, as well as the occurrence of adverse reactions after operation, such as nausea, emesis and diarrhea.

Statistical analysis

SPSS 19.0 software (AsiaAnalytics; formerly SPSS China) was used to statistically analyze the data. Counting data were expressed as n (%). The comparison of the rates between the two groups was carried out by χ2 test. Enumeration data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation and their comparison between the two groups was carried out by independent samples t-test. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for the comparison of the data at different time-points in the same group, and LSD test was the post hoc test used. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

Results

General characteristics of the two groups of patients

There were 180 patients in the control group, including 118 males (65.56%) and 62 females (34.46%) with average age of 51.6±10.8 years. In the study group, there were 205 patients, including 132 males (64.39%) and 73 females (35.61%) with average age of 52.7±9.5 years. There was no significant difference in sex, age, BMI, location of tumor, AST, ALT or other general characteristics between the two groups (P>0.05), as presented in Table I.

Table I. Patient general characteristics.

Table I.

Patient general characteristics.

Characteristics	Control group (n=180)	Study group (n=205)	χ2/t value	P-value
Sex [n (%)]			0.057	0.810
Male	118 (65.56)	132 (64.39)
Female	62 (34.46)	73 (35.61)
Age (years)	51.6±10.8	52.7±9.5	1.063	0.288
BMI (kg/m2)	25.1±3.9	24.9±4.2	0.552	0.518
Tumor size (cm)	6.4±2.5	6.6±3.2	0.677	0.499
Tumor location [n (%)]			0.454	0.500
Left	86 (47.8)	105 (51.2)
Right	94 (52.2)	100 (48.8)
AST (U/l)	73.5±40.4	70.7±46.4	0.989	0.323
ALT (U/l)	69.6±43.6	72.5±40.6	0.676	0.500
TBiL (µmol/l)	25.4±5.6	24.7±7.3	1.045	0.297
Operative time (min)	176.1±46.8	181.5±37.5	1.273	0.204
Hilar blocking time (min)	13.6±4.3	12.5±6.8	1.867	0.063
Bleeding (ml)	343.5±48.2	335.7±52.3	1.514	0.131
Infusion (ml)	2,320.7±463.5	2,230.5±500.8	1.826	0.069
AFP (ng/ml)	50.3±16.8	52.4±15.6	1.271	0.204
CEA (ng/ml)	19.8±7.6	20.6±8.9	0.942	0.347

[i] Hilar blocking time is the time required to reduce bleeding before intraoperative operation of the liver. BMI, body mass index; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; TBiL, total bilirubin; AFP, α-fetoprotein; CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen.

Analysis of pain and sedation index

Intragroup comparisons: VAS and NSS scores at 24 h after operation were superior to those at 12 h after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Intergroup comparisons: VAS and NSS scores in the study group were better than those in the control group at 12 and 24 h after operation, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05; Table II).

Table II. Analysis of pain and sedation indexes (scores).

Table II.

Analysis of pain and sedation indexes (scores).

Scoring system	Control group (n=180)	Study group (n=205)	t value	P-value
VAS
12 h after operation	4.5±0.6	4.1±1.6	3.164	0.002
24 h after operation	3.6±0.4a	2.9±0.5a	15.029	<0.001
NSS
12 h after operation	2.3±0.5	3.2±0.6	15.861	<0.001
24 h after operation	2.8±0.7a	3.7±0.5a	14.641	<0.001

{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn[@id='tfn2-ol-0-0-12159'] } VAS, visual analogue scale; NSS, numeric sedation scale.

a P<0.05, compared with the same group at 12 h after operation.

Analysis of patient satisfaction

The satisfaction score at 24 h after operation in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05; Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Analysis of patient satisfaction. The satisfaction score at 24 h after operation was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group. *P<0.05.

Analysis of immune cell levels

Intragroup comparisons: Compared with the levels before anesthesia, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells in both groups were significantly decreased at 12 and 24 h after operation (P<0.05). Intergroup comparisons: There was no significant difference in the activity of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells before anesthesia; however, the levels were significantly higher in the study group compared with those in the control group at 12 and 24 h after operation (Figs. 2 and 3).

Figure 2. Comparison of the levels of the immune cells in the two groups of patients. The levels of (A) CD3+ (B) CD4+ (C) CD8+ and (D) NK cells in the two groups of patients at different time-points were detected. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001, compared with the control group. Post-12 h, 12 h after operation; Post-24 h, 24 h after operation.

Figure 3. Flow cytometry plots before anesthesia and at 12 and 24 h after operation. Post-12 h, 12 h after operation; Post-24 h, 24 h after operation.

Analysis of postoperative rehabilitation

The postoperative hospitalization time, first flatulence time, first defecation time and first ambulation time were shorter in the study group than those in the control group (P<0.05; Table III).

Table III. Analysis of postoperative rehabilitation.

Table III.

Analysis of postoperative rehabilitation.

Variables	Control group (n=180)	Study group (n=205)	t value	P-value
Postoperative hospitalization time (days)	12.5±1.8	9.7±2.5	12.456	<0.001
First flatulence time (h)	55.8±10.6	47.6±8.3	8.500	<0.001
First defecation time (h)	88.6±11.6	82.4±9.3	5.815	<0.001
First ambulation time (h)	4.5±0.5	3.2±1.1	14.586	<0.001

Analysis of adverse reactions

There was no significant difference in nausea, emesis, diarrhea, dizziness or hear burn between the two groups after operation (P>0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the total adverse reactions (P>0.05) between the two groups. There were no other serious adverse reaction in either group (Table IV).

Table IV. Analysis of adverse reactions [n (%)].

Table IV.

Analysis of adverse reactions [n (%)].

Adverse reactions	Control group (n=180)	Study group (n=205)	χ2 value	P-value
Nausea	7 (3.89)	8 (3.90)	4.70×10−5	0.995
Vomiting	7 (3.89)	6 (2.93)	0.272	0.521
Diarrhea	6 (3.33)	8 (3.90)	0.089	0.766
Dizziness	8 (4.44)	10 (4.88)	0.040	0.841
Heart burn	9 (5.00)	12 (5.85)	0.135	0.713
Total adverse reactions	37 (20.56)	44 (21.46)	0.048	0.827

Discussion

HCC pathogenesis is not clear yet, which limits the choices of treatment. Hepatectomy is still the first choice of treatment. The 5-year survival rate of patients with HCC is between 30 and 40% (13). Postoperative pain after hepatectomy is one of the serious challenges, thus it is necessary for postoperative PCIA to control the pain of patients, relieve their discomfort and enhance the recovery (14). A study has shown that dexmetomide can effectively maintain the homeostasis of cellular immune function in patients undergoing radical mastectomy, can effectively improve the recovery of patients and reduce inflammation (15). Another study has reported that dexmetomide can effectively reduce the release of inflammatory factors in patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer and can reduce the decrease of CD3+ and CD4+ cells to improve the impairment of immune function (16). These studies have shown that drug PCIA has a positive effect on the immune function of the body. In the present study, the clinical effect and safety assessment of hydromorphone combined with sufentanil for PCIA in patients with HCC were retrospectively analyzed, and the effect on the patients' immune function was verified by examining the difference of the immune cells in the serum to provide reference for the clinical treatment of postoperative pain in patients with HCC.

A total of 385 patients with HCC were included in the study, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the different methods of drug analgesia that they received. The analysis of the basic data of the two groups showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups. VAS and NSS scores at 12 and 24 h after operation, as well as the patient satisfaction after 24 h, were significantly different between the two groups, suggesting that the postoperative analgesia effect of the combination of hydromorphone and sufentanil was better than that of the sufentanil analgesia alone. At 12 h after operation, the levels of immune factors in the study group were higher than those in the control group, suggesting that the combination of hydromorphone and sufentanil had a significant effect on improving the immune level of the body. In addition, there was no significant difference in postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups, suggesting that the PCIA assisting role of hydromorphone is desirable. A previous study has shown that there was no significant difference in analgesic effect and adverse reactions between hydromorphone alone and sufentanil alone (17). Another study (18) has shown that the administration of dexmetiomide combined with sufentanil for postoperative analgesia in patients with partial laryngectomy can reduce the dosage of sufentanil and improve the analgesic effect, reduce the cough frequency of patients and improve the sleep quality. However, the rate of adverse reactions was still as high as 37.8% (18), and the incidence of adverse reactions was 10.73% in this study.

The abnormal expressions of various pain mediators in vivo will lead to acute pain, and the detection of the level of patient mediators can objectively reflect the subjective pain degree of patients. The effect threshold or stimulation range of the combination of multiple drugs on pain mediators is wider than that of drugs alone, and the effect on nervous system is better than that of drugs alone (19,20). Some studies have shown that sufentanil combined with butorphenol has a stronger analgesic effect than butorphenol alone (21), the combination of dexmedetomidine and sufentanil in the treatment of PCIA after thoracoscopic lobectomy has better analgesic effect and more stable blood flow dynamics than that of sufentanil alone, and can reduce the dose of sufentanil and the adverse reaction (22). These studies have confirmed that the effect of combined drugs is better than that of drugs alone. In addition, it has been reported that the high density of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells is closely related to the recurrence rate of patients with breast cancer. The higher the activity, the lower the recurrence rate, and the higher the survival rate of the patients (23). Another study showed that the survival time of patients with CD8CT density >93 cells/mm2 was significantly longer than that of patients with CD8CT density <93 cells/mm2 (24). One study demonstrated that the density of CD3+, CD8+, and T-lymphocytes can predict the survival rate of advanced colon cancer (25). Another study has shown that the pro-inflammatory tumor micro-environment and infiltrating T lymphocytes expressing CD8 are related to the improvement of clinical outcomes of various tumor types. For example, bone marrow-derived inhibitory cells and regulatory T cells seem to play an important role in undermining the immune control of cancer (26). On this basis, we believe that PCIA with better results after operation may reduce the recurrence rate and improve the survival rate, which could be verified in future studies.

Although this study confirmed the effect of the combination of hydromorphone and sufentanil for the PCIA after hepatectomy, there are still some deficiencies. The study did not investigate the PCIA of secondary hepatocellular cancer. This will be the aim of our future research. In addition, there are some limitations due to the retrospective character of the study. Serum pain mediators would be useful in determining the clinical response of patients; however, the serum pain medium data were not collected in this study. Moreover, the lack of a larger sample size may have produced inevitable deviation to the experimental results. These shortcomings will be addressed in our future research.

In conclusion, PCIA with hydromorphone combined with sufentanil can provide safe and effective analgesia, may improve the patients' immune function and enhance the recovery ability of the body, providing future reference for the clinical application of hydromorphone combined with sufentanil PCIA.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable.

Funding

The study was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, ‘Study of Mechanism of Targeted Temperature Management Induced Neuroprotection after Cardiac Arrest Based on NPD1-Iduna pathway and a potential therapy strategy’ project (grant no. 2020JJ4404).

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors' contributions

JLi and YW analyzed and interpreted the patients' data. YT and JLu were responsible for the flow cytometry. YL and ST assisted with statistical analysis. JLi wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Hunan Provincial People's Hospital (Changsha, China). Patients who participated in this study had complete clinical data. Signed written informed consents were obtained from the patients and/or guardians.

Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References