Objective:

This study was intended to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of intravenously administered dexketoprofen trometamol in comparison with lornoxicam and paracetamol for acute postoperative pain.

Material and Methods:

120 ASA physical status I-II patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy were enrolled in this study and randomly allocated into four groups (Groups D, L, P, and C). Following standard monitorization, in all groups, induction of anaesthesia was achieved via intravenous route using 5-7 mg kg-1 thiopental, 1 μg kg-1 fentanyl, and 0.1 mg kg-1 vecuronium bromide, and also 6-8 % concentration of desflurane in 50 % O2 50 % N2 O was used for the maintenance of anaesthesia in all groups. Patients received intravenous dexketoprofen trometamol 50 mg (Group D), 8 mg lornoxicam (Group L), 1 g paracetamol (Group P) and 100 mL SF (Group C) 30 min before the end of the surgery and 8-16 h after the surgery in Groups D, L, C. Group P received rescue medication at 6., 12., 18. and 24h after the surgery. At the end of the surgery, all patients received fentanyl via a patient controlled iv analgesia (PCA) device. Pain scores, cumulative fentanyl consumption, and patient satisfaction scores were assessed at 30 min, 2., 4., 6., 12. and 24h postoperatively.

Results:

The VAS scores at all evaluation time points, were similar among the groups. Fentanly consumption at 6., 12. and 24h postoperatively in Group P, L, and D was significantly lower when compared with Group C (p<0,05). Fentanyl consumption in Group L was lower relative to the other groups without any statistical significance. The patients’ satisfaction scores at 6., 12. and 24h postoperatively in Group L were higher than the other groups (p<0,05). There was no significant difference between groups regarding sedation scores and side effects observed like postoperative nausea and vomiting and indigestion.

Conclusion:

We concluded that iv paracetamol, lornoxicam and dexketoprofen trometamol were equivalent in terms of analgesic efficiency in the management of postoperative pain after total abdominal hysterectomy.

Keywords: Intravenous, paracetamol, lornoxicam and dexketoprofen trometamol, postoperative pain