Analgesia for outpatient surgery: placebo versus naproxen sodium (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) given before or after surgery.
One hundred and eighty patients scheduled for day-care surgery were allocated randomly to one of three groups to receive naproxen sodium 1100 mg 1 h prior to surgery, naproxen sodium 1100 mg immediately after surgery, or placebo. The pre-surgery naproxen sodium group had significantly lower pain scores 1 h post-operatively and at discharge than the placebo group. At discharge both treatment groups were better than placebo. At 24 h post-operatively only the post-operative naproxen sodium group had lower pain scores. There was no difference in post-operative analgesic requirements until discharge between the groups, but at 24 h post-operatively the placebo group had required significantly more analgesics than the treatment groups. A questionnaire concerning general acceptability of anaesthesia/analgesia showed similar results. Our conclusion is that naproxen is better than placebo for treatment of post-operative pain. The time of administration pre- or post-operatively is important for the immediate post-operative pain, but we found no support for the existence of 'pre-emptive analgesia'.
Anaesthesia Department, Aalborg Hospital, Denmark.
L
L
Bünemann
H
H
Thorshauge
P
P
Herlevsen
A D
AD
Iversen
F B
FB
Nielsen
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000698:Analgesia; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009288:Naproxen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010919:Placebos; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011292:Premedication; D011997:Recovery Room; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D000082:Acetaminophen; D009288:Naproxen; D008614:Meperidine