Perioperative versus postoperative celecoxib on patient outcomes after major plastic surgery procedures.
BACKGROUND
Controversy continues to surround the use of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors in the perioperative period. We designed this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the hypothesis that administration of celecoxib preoperatively or postoperatively and for 3 days after major plastic surgery would improve pain control and clinically important patient outcomes. Another objective of the study was to determine whether perioperative administration of celecoxib offered any advantages over postoperative administration alone.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty healthy consenting patients undergoing major plastic surgery (e.g., breast augmentation, abdominoplasty procedures) using a standardized general anesthetic technique were randomized to one of three treatment groups: 1) control group (n = 40) received two placebos orally before and after surgery, as well as one placebo BID for 3 days after surgery; 2) postoperative group (n = 40) received two placebos before surgery and 2 celecoxib 200 mg p.o. after surgery, followed by one celecoxib 200 mg p.o. BID on postoperative day #1, #2 and #3; and 3) perioperative group (n = 40) received 2 celecoxib 200 mg p.o. 30-90 min before surgery, and two placebos after surgery, followed by one celecoxib 200 mg p.o. BID on postoperative day #1, #2, and #3. Pain scores, the need for rescue analgesics, and side effects were recorded at specific time intervals in the postoperative period. Follow-up evaluations were performed at 24, 48, 72 h, and 7 days after surgery to assess postdischarge pain, analgesic requirements, return of bowel function, resumption of normal daily activities, quality of recovery, as well as patient satisfaction with pain management.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the two celecoxib groups had similar significant reductions in postoperative pain and need for opioid analgesics during the first three postoperative days (P < 0.01). Patients recovered bowel function 1 day earlier and resumed normal activities 2 days earlier in the celecoxib groups. In addition, patient satisfaction with pain management and quality of recovery were significantly improved in the celecoxib (versus control) groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Celecoxib (400 mg p.o.) administered on the day of surgery and for 3 days postoperatively is effective in improving postoperative pain management, as well as the speed and quality of recovery after major plastic surgery. However, perioperative administration offers no advantages over simply giving the drug after surgery.
Sun
Tiffany
T
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9068, USA.
Sacan
Ozlem
O
White
Paul F
PF
Coleman
Jayne
J
Rohrich
Rod J
RJ
Kenkel
Jeffrey M
JM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068579:Celecoxib; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003672:Defecation / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D009020:Morphine; D000068579:Celecoxib