[Analgesics in the postoperative period of abdominal interventions. The Study Group on Postoperative Analgesia of the Spanish Society of Clinical Pharmacology].
BACKGROUND
Analgesics can avoid postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate their prescription after abdominal surgery.


METHODS
Prospective study including patients who had undergone abdominal surgery in two hospitals in Barcelona, in 1993. Prescription and administration of analgesic drugs, and pain severity during the first 48 hours of the postoperative period were evaluated.


RESULTS
One hundred and sixty-four patients (83 men) were included. The most frequently prescribed drugs were metamizol (111; 68%), pethidine (83, 51%), and diclofenac (44; 27%). A high percentage of analgesic prescriptions on an "as needed" basis was recorded. Administered doses were lower than those recommended, and lower than those prescribed. Fifty-three percent of patients suffered significant pain during the first day.


CONCLUSIONS
A too low proportion of analgesic drugs is prescribed in a predetermined schedule, in contrast to "as needed" prescription. Opiate derivatives are underused. All analgesic drugs are prescribed at inadequate dosage. This prescription pattern is associated with a high prevalence of postoperative pain.
Aguilera
C
C
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona.
Arnau
J M
JM
Bosch
C
C
Castel
J M
JM
Laporte
J R
JR
Paredes
I
I
Vallano
A
A
Farré
M
M
Terán
M
M
Menoyo
E
E
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000776:Anesthesiology; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013030:Spain
D000700:Analgesics
Analgésicos en el postoperatorio de intervenciones abdominales, y Grupo de Estudio sobre la Analgesia Postoperatoria de la Sociedad Española de Farmacología Clínica.