title: Comparison of analgesic efficacy of flupirtine maleate and ibuprofen in gynaecological ambulatory surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Flupirtine maleate is a centrally acting, non-opioid analgesic with unique muscle relaxant properties as compared to common analgesics. The aim of this study was to compare post-operative analgesic efficacy of flupirtine maleate and ibuprofen in patients undergoing gynaecological ambulatory surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomised controlled study was conducted in 60 women of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I/II, 18-70 years of age and scheduled to undergo gynaecological ambulatory surgeries. The participants were randomised to receive either 100 mg oral flupirtine maleate (group flupirtine, n = 30) or 800 mg oral ibuprofen (group ibuprofen, n = 30), 1 h prior to surgery and then every 8 h for 48 h. Verbal Numerical Rating Scale (VNRS) on movement was assessed at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h following surgery. Following discharge from hospital, the patients were interviewed telephonically at 12, 24 and 48 h post-operatively. VNRS was statistically analysed using Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VNRS on movement was statistically reduced at 2 h after surgery (P = 0.04) in group flupirtine as compared to group ibuprofen. The analgesic efficacy was similar in both the groups at 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 and 48 h after surgery. The satisfaction scores at 24 and 48 h post-operatively were superior in group flupirtine as compared to group ibuprofen (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analgesic efficacy of flupirtine maleate was comparable with ibuprofen in patients in ambulatory gynaecological patients up to 48 h postoperatively with superior satisfaction scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Vanita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sukanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kazal
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huria
keywords: Ambulatory surgical procedures; flupirtine; ibuprofen