A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of preemptively administered intravenous parecoxib: effect on anxiety levels and procedural pain during epidural catheter placement for surgical operations or for chronic pain therapy.
BACKGROUND
The effect of parecoxib, when used perioperatively or during interventional techniques, is well demonstrated in the literature. Little is known about its effects on anxiety levels before the analgesic technique application. The aim of this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study is to investigate whether parecoxib, preemptively administrated, has an effect on anxiety levels reported prior to an epidural puncture, and if it influences the reported pain of the interventional technique itself.


METHODS
The study protocol involved 110 patients, scheduled for epidural catheter placement for chronic pain therapy--Group I, as well as 112 patients scheduled for orthopedic operations under epidural anesthesia--Group II. Patients in each group were randomly allocated into two subgroups in relation to parecoxib/placebo administration before epidural catheter placement: Group Ia, parecoxib 40 mg i.v. (n = 54), Group Ib, placebo (n = 56), Group IIa, parecoxib 40 mg i.v. (n = 57), Group IIb, placebo (n = 55). Patients were given a self-administered inventory to measure the anxiety level of the presurgical/preprocedural state (State-Trait Spielberger Anxiety Inventory) and anxiety levels were recorded 1 hour before epidural puncture, 20 minutes postdosing, and 1 hour after epidural catheter placement. Anxiety levels were also measured and recorded using visual analog scale (VAS). One hour after epidural puncture, reported procedural pain was recorded (VAS). One hour and 6 hours postepidural, patients' satisfaction was also recorded, on a 4-point scale.


RESULTS
All four subgroups were similar regarding demographic, operative/procedural data, and coexisting diseases. Preprocedural anxiety levels were significantly decreased with parecoxib administration in comparison with placebo in both groups (P < 0.05). Reported VAS regarding pain from epidural puncture was lower in Groups IA and Ib. Patients' satisfaction was greater with parecoxib in comparison with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of anxiety have been investigated in several medical procedures and early, in the study of pain. The higher the expectation of pain and the anxiety are, the higher the intensity of the pain. Parecoxib seems to exert positive influence on pain and anxiety levels of interventional procedure. Further studies are needed to elucidate the actual mechanisms that are involved.
Vadalouca
Athina
A
Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Therapy and Palliative Care, Aretaieion University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Moka
Eleni
E
Chatzidimitriou
Anna
A
Siafaka
Ioanna
I
Sikioti
Panayiota
P
Argyra
Erifilli
E
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002404:Catheterization / Q000592:standards; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007555:Isoxazoles; D010919:Placebos; C409945:parecoxib