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.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
Kathryn M
KM
Davis
Matthew A
MA
Esposito
Bruce A
BA
Meyer
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