Preoperative administration of controlled-release oxycodone for the management of pain after ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the analgesic efficacy of administering controlled-release (CR) oxycodone 10 mg before elective ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind study.


METHODS
50 healthy women presenting for elective ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery.


METHODS
Ambulatory surgery center of a university hospital.


METHODS
Fifty patients were administered either placebo (n = 25) or CR oxycodone 10 mg (n = 25) 1 hour before surgery. All patients were administered a similar general anesthetic. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), fentanyl 25 microg was administered for a verbal analog scale (VAS) pain score >or=3. Patients were discharged home when they were awake and alert, had stable vital signs, were able to void, tolerated oral fluids, experienced no side effects, had a VAS <or=3, and were able to ambulate without assistance. While at home, patients were instructed to take 1 to 2 acetaminophen 325 mg/oxycodone 5 mg tablets, every 3 hours as needed for a VAS >or=3.


METHODS
VAS pain scores and the frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded in the PACU. While at home, patients were contacted by telephone after surgery and asked about their pain score, time to first analgesic use, frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and total acetaminophen/oxycodone use in the 24 hours following surgery.


RESULTS
Patients in the CR oxycodone group had a shorter time to discharge (p < 0.001), reported lower postoperative pain scores (p < 0.001), lower frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (p < 0.05), longer time to first analgesic use (p < 0.0,001), and required less fentanyl in the PACU (p < 0.01) and fewer acetaminophen/oxycodone tablets in the 24 hours following surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The preoperative administration of CR oxycodone 10 mg is an effective analgesic technique in the management of pain following ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, and may facilitate earlier postoperative discharge.
Reuben
Scott S
SS
Department of Anesthesiology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. scott.reuben@bhs.org
Steinberg
Robert B
RB
Maciolek
Holly
H
Joshi
Wanda
W
D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D010098:Oxycodone; D005283:Fentanyl