Effective treatment of laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain with intravenous followed by oral COX-2 specific inhibitor.
In this multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study we evaluated the analgesic and opioid-sparing efficacy of a preoperative dose of i.v. parecoxib followed by oral valdecoxib in treating pain associated with elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were randomized to receive a single i.v. dose of parecoxib 40 mg (n = 134) or placebo (n = 129) 30-45 min before induction of anesthesia. Six to 12 h after the i.v. dose, the parecoxib group received a single oral dose of valdecoxib 40 mg, followed by valdecoxib 40 mg qd on postoperative days 1-4, then 40 mg qd prn days 5-7. The placebo i.v. group received oral placebo on an identical schedule. All patients were allowed supplemental i.v. fentanyl as needed during the first 4 h postoperatively (T0-240 min) followed by hydrocodone 5 mg/acetaminophen 500 mg (Vicodin(R); 1-2 tablets orally every 4-6 h as needed). Patients taking parecoxib used 21% less fentanyl than those receiving placebo (P = 0.011). The mean area under the curve of pain intensity (PI) scores over time from T0-240 min was 55.2 for parecoxib and 61.2 for placebo (P = 0.083). At T180 and T240 min, mean PI score was 7.0 and 7.6 points lower in the parecoxib group, respectively (P < 0.02). Fewer patients on valdecoxib required supplemental analgesics (P < 0.05) after discharge. At T240 min and at day 7, Patient's and Physician's/Nurse's Global Evaluations were significantly better in the parecoxib/valdecoxib group (P < 0.05). Incidences of adverse events, adverse events causing withdrawal, and serious adverse events were less for parecoxib/valdecoxib than for placebo. The authors conclude that preoperative parecoxib is a valuable opioid-sparing adjunct to the standard of care for treating pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and subsequent treatment with oral valdecoxib extends this clinical benefit.


CONCLUSIONS
Parecoxib 40 mg i.v., 30-45 min preoperatively followed by oral valdecoxib 40 mg qd reduced opioid requirements and provided superior pain relief as well as improved patient global evaluation after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Joshi
Girish P
GP
From the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
Viscusi
Eugene R
ER
Gan
Tong J
TJ
Minkowitz
Harold
H
Cippolle
Mark
M
Schuller
Rienhard
R
Cheung
Raymond Y
RY
Fort
John G
JG
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides
D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007555:Isoxazoles; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D013449:Sulfonamides; C406224:valdecoxib; D000096926:Benzenesulfonamides; C409945:parecoxib; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human