The Effects of Diclofenac Suppository and Intravenous Acetaminophen and their Combination on the Severity of Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Spinal Anaesthesia During Cesarean Section

Impact of Postoperative Pain on Early Initiation of Breastfeeding and Ambulation After Cesarean Section: A Randomized Trial

Aim: To compare the effect of different analgesic regimens on the time to initiate breastfeeding (BF) and ambulation after cesarean section (CS). Methods: This prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized study included 300 women (20-40 years of age) of the American Society of Anesthesiologists status 1 or 2 with singleton term pregnancies scheduled for CS under spinal anesthesia. Women were allocated to three groups of 100 each by computer-generated randomization. As an adjunct to 1,000 mg intravenous acetaminophen, Group 1 received 100 mg rectal diclofenac, Group 2 received 100 mg rectal tramadol, and Group 3 received rectal glycerin suppository. The time to initiate BF and ambulation was compared between different analgesic regimens and corelated with pain score. Results: BF (both with and without support) was initiated significantly earlier in Groups 1 and 2 as compared with control Group 3 (p < 0.001). A significantly shorter time was taken to initiate BF without support in Group 1 as compared with Group 2 (p = 0.028). The time to start ambulation (both with and without assistance) was significantly lower in Groups 1 and 2 as compared with Group 3 and in Group 1 versus Group 2 (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the time to initiate BF with support and ambulation without assistance and postoperative pain score at 0, 1, and 6 hours. Conclusion: Effective post-CS analgesia affects early initiation of BF and ambulation in the immediate postnatal period. The inclusion of rectal diclofenac suppository in post-CS analgesic regimens is a promising approach to postoperative delivery care.

The Current Consideration, Approach, and Management in Postcesarean Delivery Pain Control: A Narrative Review

Optimal postoperative analgesia has a significant impact on patient recovery and outcomes after cesarean delivery. Multimodal analgesia is the core principle for cesarean delivery and pain management. For a standard analgesic regimen, the use of long-acting neuraxial opioids (e.g., morphine) and adjunct drugs, such as scheduled acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is recommended unless contraindicated. Oral or intravenous opioids should be reserved for breakthrough pain. In addition to the aforementioned use of multimodal analgesia, preoperative evaluation is critical to individualize the analgesic regimen according to the patient requirements. Risk factors for severe postoperative pain or analgesia-related adverse effects will require modifications to the standard analgesic regimen (e.g., the use of ketamine, gabapentinoids, or regional anesthetic techniques). Further investigation is required to determine analgesic drugs or dose alterations based on preoperative predictions for patients at risk of severe pain. Outcomes beyond pain and analgesic use, such as functional recovery, should be determined to evaluate analgesic treatment protocols.

Efficacy of non-opioid analgesics to control postoperative pain: a network meta-analysis

Background

The aim of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) Meloxicam 30 mg (MIV), an investigational non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and certain other IV non-opioid analgesics for moderate-severe acute postoperative pain.

Methods

We searched PubMed and CENTRAL for Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) (years 2000–2019, adult human subjects) of IV non-opioid analgesics (IV NSAIDs or IV Acetaminophen) used to treat acute pain after abdominal, hysterectomy, bunionectomy or orthopedic procedures. A Bayesian NMA was conducted in R to rank treatments based on the standardized mean differences in sum of pain intensity difference from baseline up to 24 h postoperatively (sum of pain intensity difference: SPID 24). The probability and the cumulative probability of rank for each treatment were calculated, and the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) was applied to distinguish treatments on the basis of their outcomes such that higher SUCRA values indicate better outcomes. The study protocol was prospectively registered with by PROSPERO (CRD42019117360).

Results

Out of 2313 screened studies, 27 studies with 36 comparative observations were included, producing a treatment network that included the four non-opioid IV pain medications of interest (MIV, ketorolac, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen). MIV was associated with the largest SPID 24 for all procedure categories and comparators. The SUCRA ranking table indicated that MIV had the highest probability for the most effective treatment for abdominal (89.5%), bunionectomy (100%), and hysterectomy (99.8%). MIV was associated with significantly less MME utilization versus all comparators for abdominal procedures, hysterectomy, and versus acetaminophen in orthopedic procedures. Elsewhere MME utilization outcomes for MIV were largely equivalent or nominally better than other comparators. Odds of ORADEs were significantly higher for all comparators vs MIV for orthopedic (gastrointestinal) and hysterectomy (respiratory).

Conclusions

MIV 30 mg may provide better pain reduction with similar or better safety compared to other approved IV non-opioid analgesics. Caution is warranted in interpreting these results as all comparisons involving MIV were indirect.

The effect of a scheduled regimen of acetaminophen and ibuprofen on opioid use following cesarean delivery

Objective The primary objective was to evaluate if the administration of ibuprofen and acetaminophen at regularly scheduled intervals impacts pain scores and total opioid consumption, when compared to administration based on patient demand. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed comparing scheduled vs. as-needed acetaminophen and ibuprofen regimens, with 100 women included in each arm. Demographics and delivery characteristics were collected in addition to pain scores and total ibuprofen, acetaminophen and oxycodone use at 24, 48 and 72 h postoperatively. Results The scheduled dosing group was found to have a statistically significant decrease in pain scores at all time intervals. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen usage were also noted to be higher in this group while narcotic use was reduced by 64%. Conclusion Scheduled dosing of non-narcotic pain medications can substantially decrease opioid usage after cesarean delivery and improve post-operative pain.

Comparative Analysis of Inpatient Costs for Obstetrics and Gynecology Surgery Patients Treated With IV Acetaminophen and IV Opioids Versus IV Opioid-only Analgesia for Postoperative Pain

BACKGROUND

Recovery from obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) surgery, including hysterectomy and cesarean section delivery, aims to restore function while minimizing hospital length of stay (LOS) and medical expenditures.

OBJECTIVE

Our analyses compare OB/GYN surgery patients who received combination intravenous (IV) acetaminophen and IV opioid analgesia with those who received IV opioid-only analgesia and estimate differences in LOS, hospitalization costs, and opioid consumption.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of the Premier Database between January 2009 and June 2015, comparing OB/GYN surgery patients who received postoperative pain management with combination IV acetaminophen and IV opioids with those who received only IV opioids starting on the day of surgery and continuing up to the second postoperative day. We performed instrumental variable 2-stage least-squares regressions controlling for patient and hospital covariates to compare the LOS, hospitalization costs, and daily opioid doses (morphine equivalent dose) of IV acetaminophen recipients with that of opioid-only analgesia patients.

RESULTS

We identified 225 142 OB/GYN surgery patients who were eligible for our study of whom 89 568 (40%) had been managed with IV acetaminophen and opioids. Participants averaged 36 years of age and were predominantly non-Hispanic Caucasians (60%). Multivariable regression models estimated statistically significant differences in hospitalization cost and opioid use with IV acetaminophen associated with $484.4 lower total hospitalization costs (95% CI = -$760.4 to -$208.4; P = 0.0006) and 8.2 mg lower daily opioid use (95% CI = -10.0 to -6.4), whereas the difference in LOS was not significant, at -0.09 days (95% CI = -0.19 to 0.01; P = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

Compared with IV opioid-only analgesia, managing post-OB/GYN surgery pain with the addition of IV acetaminophen is associated with decreased hospitalization costs and reduced opioid use.