Over-the-counter oral analgesia for postcesarean pain.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction for oral analgesia for postcesarean pain management.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted on women who underwent cesarean section with regional analgesia. Women were treated with ibuprofen 400 mg in liquid-filled capsules on the first postoperative day by two modes of drug administration: on patient demand (n = 60) and at predetermined regular intervals (n = 54). Pain intensity and satisfaction were self-evaluated by the patients with use of a visual analog scale.


RESULTS
Patients in the fixed time interval group had lower pain scores (by 38%-54%, P <.001) compared with the on-demand group. Satisfaction scores in both groups were high but superior in the fixed time interval group (87.5 +/- 18.8, median 94.5, vs 78.6 +/- 21, median 85, P <.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral, nonnarcotic, postcesarean analgesia provides satisfactory pain relief. Patient satisfaction can be further enhanced by providing the medications in fixed time intervals rather than leaving it to patient request.
Jakobi
Peter
P
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, POB 9602, Haifa 31096, Israel. h_gruber@rambam.health.gov.il
Solt
Ido
I
Tamir
Ada
A
Zimmer
Etan Z
EZ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002214:Capsules; D002585:Cesarean Section; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000700:Analgesics; D002214:Capsules; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D007052:Ibuprofen