Analgesic efficacy of diclofenac and paracetamol versus pethidine for post operative pain after cesarean section.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy of diclofenac sodium and paracetamol versus pethidine after cesarean section. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Study Design: Department of Anesthesia, CMH Skardu. Period: 1^st Feb 2022 to 31 July 2022. Methods: Female patients with age from 18-40 years, ASA I or ASA II, singleton pregnancy on ultrasonography at term pregnancy planned for Lower segment cesarean section (LSCS) were included in the study. Sampling was done using a non-probability consecutive allocation of 152 patients with 76 participants in each group. Patients from Group A received intravenous pethidine while patients from Group B received per rectal diclofenac sodium and paracetamol intravenously. Recorded variables were Age, BMI, ASA grade and post operative pain on a VAS at 0 hours, 06 hours and 12 hours. Results: Mean age of 28.21 ± 5.79 years in Group A and 29.40 ± 5.84 years in Group B. Body mass index among the groups revealed mean values of 22.72 ± 1.64 kg/m² and 22.65 ± 1.65 kg/m² in Group A and Group B respectively. Post LSCS pain at 06 hours among the groups was reported by 27(35.5%) patients in Group A as compared to 10 (13.2%) patients in Group B (P=0.01). At 12 hours 30(39.5%) patients experienced pain in Group A as compared to 11(14.5%) patients in Group B with a p-value of 0.01. Conclusion: Analgesic efficacy of diclofenac and paracetamol was superior to pethidine for post operative pain after cesarean section.