Preoperative oral rofecoxib does not decrease postoperative pain or morphine consumption in patients after radical prostatectomy: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of the rofecoxib po before radical prostatectomy.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.


METHODS
Teaching hospital.


METHODS
Anesthetic management was standardized. Patients received either a 50-mg rofecoxib capsule or a placebo capsule po 1 hour before induction of anesthesia.


RESULTS
Patient-generated 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain were assessed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after surgery. Morphine consumption was recorded from a patient-controlled analgesia device at the same time. A patient-generated overall pain relief score was obtained at 24 hours after surgery. We were unable to detect any differences between study groups with respect to postoperative morphine consumption, VAS score, or overall pain relief score.


CONCLUSIONS
When rofecoxib is used po in maximum recommended doses before surgery, it does not provide significant analgesia that results in reduction in pain scores or analgesic requirements for patients after radical prostatectomy.
Huang
J J
JJ
Department of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. jeffrey_j_huang@hotmail.com
Taguchi
A
A
Hsu
H
H
Andriole
G L
GL
Kurz
A
A
D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D011468:Prostatectomy; D013450:Sulfones
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D009020:Morphine; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases