Abstract: Preoperative administration of controlled-release oxycodone for the management of pain after ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery

Authors:

Reuben SS, Steinberg RB, Maciolek H, Joshi W.

Institution:

Department of Anesthesiology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.

Source:

J Clin Anesth. 2002 May;14(3):223-7.

Abstract:

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the analgesic efficacy of administering controlled-release (CR) oxycodone 10 mg before elective ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. PATIENTS: 50 healthy women presenting for elective ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery. SETTING: Ambulatory surgery center of a university hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Fifty patients were administered either placebo (n = 25) or CR oxycodone 10 mg (n = 25) 1 hour before surgery. All patients were administered a similar general anesthetic. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), fentanyl 25 microg was administered for a verbal analog scale (VAS) pain score >or=3. Patients were discharged home when they were awake and alert, had stable vital signs, were able to void, tolerated oral fluids, experienced no side effects, had a VAS or=3. MEASUREMENTS: VAS pain scores and the frequency of ostoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded in the PACU. While at home, patients were contacted by telephone after surgery and asked about their pain score, time to first analgesic use, frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and total acetaminophen/oxycodone use in the 24 hours following surgery. MAIN RESULTS: Patients in the CR oxycodone group had a shorter time to discharge (p < 0.001), reported lower postoperative pain scores (p < 0.001), lower frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting (p < 0.05), longer time to first analgesic use (p < 0.0,001), and required less fentanyl in the PACU (p < 0.01) and fewer acetaminophen/oxycodone tablets in the 24 hours following surgery. CONCLUSION: The preoperative administration of CR oxycodone 10 mg is an effective analgesic technique in the management of pain following ambulatory laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, and may facilitate earlier postoperative discharge.

Keywords:

Anaesthesia Surgery Gynaecology Laparoscopy Sterilisation Complications Analgesia Pain Oxycodone