The Effect of Intravenous Paracetamol on Postoperative Pain after Lumbar Discectomy

• Main Authors: Mohammad Shimia, Masoud Parish, Naghi Abedini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Spine Society 2014-08-01
• Series: Asian Spine Journal
• Subjects: Analgesia; Paracetamol; Lumbar discectomy; Pain; Morphine
• Online Access: http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-8-400.pdf
• ISSN: 1976-1902; 1976-7846

Study DesignA randomized, double-blinded controlled trial.PurposePostoperative pain relief especially using analgesic drugs with minimal side effects has considerable clinical importance. This study aimed to examine the effect of intravenous paracetamol on pain relief after lumbar discectomy as a major surgery.Overview of LiteraturePatients undergoing lumbar discectomy experience a high degree of lumbar pain. Some authors emphasize the use of intravenous paracetamol to improve postoperative pain and increase patients' satisfaction following this surgery.MethodsFifty-two patients scheduled for lumbar discectomy were randomly allocated into two groups: a group that received intravenous paracetamol (1 g/100 mL normal saline) within the last 20 minutes of surgery as the case group (n=24) and a group that received sodium chloride 0.9% 100 mL as the control group (n=28). Postoperative pain was assessed at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after surgery by a visual analogue scale (VAS). The dosage of the administered opioid (morphine), as well as drug-related side effects within the first 24 hours after surgery were also recorded.ResultsThe mean VAS score was significantly lower in the paracetamol group than the controls for all of the assessed time points. Although the dose of the administered morphine was numerically lower in the paracetamol group, this difference was not statistically significant (5.53±4.49 mL vs. 7.85±4.17 mL).ConclusionsIntravenous paracetamol as a non-opioid analgesic can relieve postoperative pain in patients undergoing lumbar discectomy; however, its use alone may not represent the best regimen for reducing the needed dose of opioids after operation.