Comparison of efficacy of meperidine and fentanyl in terms of pain management and quality of life in patients with cervical cancer receiving intracavitary brachytherapy: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial.
The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two sedative regimens, a benzodiazepine with either meperidine or fentanyl, in relieving pain in patients with cervical cancer undergoing intracavitary brachytherapy in terms of pain score and quality of life.



Forty unselected outpatients undergoing brachytherapy (160 fractions) were enrolled with informed consent and randomized to receive a benzodiazepine with either meperidine or fentanyl. The perceived pain score according to a standard 10-item numeric rating scale was collected every 15 min during the procedure, and the perceived quality of life was determined at the end of each procedure using the EuroQol five-dimension questionnaire. The patients and medical staff members directly involved with the procedure were blinded to the medication used.



The patients' pain levels were mild in both analgesic groups. Meperidine appeared to be slightly more effective than fentanyl, although the differences in the average pain score and quality of life were not statistically significant.



Both meperidine and fentanyl in combination with benzodiazepine were effective in relieving pain and discomfort in patients undergoing brachytherapy.



NCT02684942, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 54 Kamphang Phet 6 Rd, Lak Si, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand. saengrawee81@gmail.com.
Saengrawee
0000-0002-9350-3410
S
Thanthong
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 54 Kamphang Phet 6 Rd, Lak Si, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand.
Sirikorn
S
Rojthamarat
Department of Anesthesiology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wipra
W
Worasawate
Department of Anesthesiology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Phongthara
P
Vichitvejpaisal
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 54 Kamphang Phet 6 Rd, Lak Si, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand.
Danupon
D
Nantajit
Department of Radiation Oncology, Chulabhorn Hospital, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, 54 Kamphang Phet 6 Rd, Lak Si, Bangkok, 10210, Thailand.|Department of Radiology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Nantakarn
N
Ieumwananontachai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008614:Meperidine; D005283:Fentanyl
Brachytherapy; Fentanyl; Meperidine; Pain management; Quality of life