Prevention of Post Operative Pain after Abdominal Hysterectomy by Single Dose Etoricoxib
Waraporn Chau-in MD*, Somboon Thienthong MD*, Aksorn Pulnitiporn MD**, Wattana Tantanatewin BSc, MBA*, Witoon Prasertcharoensuk MD***, Wimonrat Sriraj MD*
Affiliation : * Departments of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen *** Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen ** Division of Anesthesiology, Khon Kaen regional Hospital, Khon Kaen
Objective : To test whether a reduction in post operative morphine consumption could be achieved by a
single-dose of etoricoxib before induction of anesthesia.
Results : Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Material and Method: Two hours before surgery, patients undergoing transabdominal hysterectomy (under
general anesthesia) were randomized to a single oral dose of: 1) etoricoxib 120 mg (n = 17), 2) etoricoxib
180 mg (n = 17), or 3) placebo (n = 15). Intravenous morphine was given for patient-controlled analgesia
(PCA) device. Morphine consumption, pain scores both at rest and on coughing, and side-effects were
recorded at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h after surgery. Patients’ global evaluation of study medication was assessed at
the end of the present study.
Results : Etoricoxib provided greater clinical benefit than the placebo in terms of mean morphine in milligram
at 24 hour consumption (stardard deviation): a) 26.4 mg (SD of 11.2) for etoricoxib 120 mg; b) 27.2 mg (SD
of 9.9) for etoricoxib 180 mg; and, c) 36.6 mg (SD of 8.9) for the placebo group. At 8 h post surgery, pain both
at rest and on coughing in the active drug groups was significantly less than in the placebo, while pain on
coughing was significantly less at 24 h. Patients reported better global satisfaction and less somnolence in the
etoricoxib groups.
Conclusion : Single dose etoricoxib 180 mg given before surgery provides the same analgesic effect as 120 mg
for post operative pain after an abdominal hysterectomy.
Keywords : Abdominal hysterectomy, Etoricoxib, Morphine consumption, Preventive analgesia
