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Preoperative analgesia management with rofecoxib in thoracotomy patients.

OBJECTIVE
Pain management after thoracotomy is significant because pain reduces the postoperative respiratory performance. In this study, the analgesic efficacy and safety of rofecoxib in thoracotomy patients were evaluated.


DESIGN
A prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study.


SETTING
This study was performed in the Meram Medical School of Selcuk University Departments of Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesiology.


PARTICIPANTS
Sixty patients undergoing elective thoracic surgery via thoracotomy were randomized to receive either oral placebo or rofecoxib, 50 mg, 1 hour before surgery.


INTERVENTIONS
All patients received a standard anesthetic. Pain scores, sedation scores, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, analgesic requirements, and side effects were noted 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 32, 40, and 48 hours after operation.


MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the 2 study groups with respect to demographics, sedation score, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage. Compared with placebo, morphine consumption and pain scores at rest and during coughing were significantly lower with rofecoxib.


CONCLUSIONS
The preoperative administration of rofecoxib, 50 mg, provides significant analgesia for postoperative pain relief and decreases additional opioid requirements after thoracotomy.