Oral analgesia compared with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia for pain after cesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral analgesia with oxycodone-acetaminophen or a patient-controlled analgesia device with morphine provides superior analgesia after cesarean delivery.


METHODS
Ninety-three patients with scheduled cesarean delivery were assigned randomly to receive either oral analgesia with oxycodone-acetaminophen or a morphine patient-controlled analgesia device. At 6 and 24 hours after the procedure, pain was assessed on a visual analog pain scale of 0 to 10. Nausea, sedation, pruritus, ambulation, emesis, and oral fluid intake were also assessed.


RESULTS
Patients who used oral analgesia without a patient-controlled analgesia device experienced less pain at 6 and 24 hours after cesarean delivery. They also had less nausea and drowsiness at 6 hours but slightly more nausea at 24 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral analgesia with oxycodone-acetaminophen may offer superior pain control after cesarean delivery with fewer side-effects as compared with morphine patient-controlled analgesia. Consideration should be given to expanding the use of oral analgesia in patients immediately after cesarean delivery.
Davis
Kathryn M
KM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Esposito
Matthew A
MA
Meyer
Bruce A
BA
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000009:adverse effects; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy
D000700:Analgesics; D000082:Acetaminophen; D010098:Oxycodone