Flurbiprofen used in one-lung ventilation improves intraoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation and reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium.

Background: We previously demonstrated that flurbiprofen increased arterial oxygen partial pressure and reduced intrapulmonary shunts. The present study aims to investigate whether flurbiprofen improves intraoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO) and reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in elderly patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV).

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy were randomly assigned to the flurbiprofen-treated group ( = 60) and the control-treated group ( = 60). Flurbiprofen was intravenously administered 20 minutes before skin incision. The rScO and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO) were recorded during the surgery, and POD was measured by the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) within 5 days after surgery. The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the number ChiCTR1800020032.

Results: Compared with the control group, treatment with flurbiprofen significantly improved the mean value of intraoperative rScO as well as the PaO value (P < 0.05, both) and significantly reduced the baseline values of the rScO area under threshold (AUT) ( < 0.01) at 15, 30, and 60 min after OLV in the flurbiprofen-treated group. After surgery, the POD incidence in the flurbiprofen-treated group was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: Treatment with flurbiprofen may improve rScO and reduce the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing thoracoscopic one-lung ventilation surgery for lung cancer.

Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org/cn/, identifier ChiCTR1800020032.