Abstract

TAPIA, B.; PEREZ-HERNANDEZ, C.; MATUTE, E.  and  GILSANZ, F.. Postoperative analgesia with lornoxicam versus metamizol for outpatient major surgery: A randomized prospective study. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2005, vol.12, n.7, pp.401-406. ISSN 1134-8046.

Objectives: To compare the analgesic effectiveness for outpatient major surgery of two non-opiate analgesic drugs: metamizol, frequently used in our setting, versus lornoxicam, recently introduced in the clinical practice. Methods: Prospective and randomized study in 73 patients scheduled for outpatient major surgery. At the end of the procedure, all patients received a single dose of metamizol i.v. Oral analgesics were administered when patients started to develop tolerance and were randomized to one of the following groups: Lornoxicam Group (n = 35), with one tablet of lornoxicam 8 mg each 12 hours; or Metamizol Group, with one tablet of metamizol 575 mg each 8 hours. Post-operative pain was assessed at four different time points during the postoperative process: at the reanimation unit after surgery, at the beginning of the analgesic treatment with oral tolerance, upon hospital discharge and 48 hours after surgery. We used the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), a simple numerical scale to assess pain through a phone call performed at 48 hours, patient satisfaction at the end of the procedure, patient opinion regarding the medication received and need for rescue medication. Results: We did not find any statically significant differences in VAS scores at the reanimation unit, the beginning of the oral analgesic treatment or the assessment of pain 48 hours after surgery. VAS scores upon hospital discharge were lower in the metamizol group compared to the lornoxicam group (p < 0.05). Patient satisfaction and patient opinion regarding the medication received were also better in the metamizol group (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed regarding the need for rescue medication. Discussion: Both drugs provide appropriate postoperative analgesia, but perhaps the dosage regime used in the metamizol group provided better analgesia upon hospital discharge and improved subjective assessment of patients regarding the analgesic drug received.

Keywords : Outpatient major surgery; Postoperative analgesia; Lornoxicam; Metamizol.

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