The changing pattern of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug use in cleft lip and palate repair.
OBJECTIVE
This work aimed at performing a retrospective and comparative investigation of pharmacological therapeutic approach for pain and inflammation control for cleft lip and/or palate repair.


METHODS
Medical charts from 2000 patients who underwent surgical procedures at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC-USP), Brazil, were assessed to obtain information regarding type of cleft, surgical procedure, and analgesic and anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed. The first 1000 consecutive surgeries performed in 1992 and 2002 were assessed.


RESULTS
Different analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), steroids, and opioids-were given to patients perioperatively and postoperatively. NSAIDS were given to almost all patients (97.03% in 1992 and 99.88% in 2002, P > .05). Steroid administration increased in 2002 (8.66% versus 17.71%, P < .05). Opioids were administered only in 2002 (50.31%, P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
NSAIDS, steroids, and opioids were used for pain and inflammation control in cleft lip and palate repair at HRAC-USP. A change in the pattern of analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug use was observed when comparing 1992 and 2002. More potent compounds, such as opioids, were used in 2002 in a significant percentage of all the surgical procedures.
Santos
Carlos F
CF
Discipline of Pharmacology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. cebola@usp.br
Calvo
Adriana M
AM
Sakai
Vivien T
VT
Dionísio
Thiago J
TJ
Lauris
José R P
JR
Carvalho
Roberta M
RM
Trindade
Alceu S
AS
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013256:Steroids