The efficacy of pentazocine + diclofenac versus paracetamol + diclofenac for post- caesarean section analgesia.

BACKGROUND

The most common major obstetric procedure is caesarean section (CS) and one of the greatest concerns for women after CS is to have optimal pain relief.

AIM

This study aims to compare the efficacy of pentazocine + diclofenac and paracetamol + diclofenac on post-operative analgesia after CS.

METHODOLOGY

This was a single-blind, randomised trial. Pregnant women that had CS were randomized into two groups. Group A received intramuscular pentazocine + rectal diclofenac postoperatively. Group B received intramuscular paracetamol + rectal diclofenac postoperatively. Post-operative pain was assessed by numeric rating scale at 1 h after the surgery, at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h. The result obtained was analysed using SPSS Version 22 and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

The median pain scores in both groups ranged from 2 to 3 across all periods of assessment. The pain relief was slightly better in the pentazocine + diclofenac group with no significant difference in the pain score between the two groups at all periods of assessment. The satisfaction level was good in 66.3% and 69.5% of the participants in the pentazocine + diclofenac and paracetamol + diclofenac group respectively but the difference was not statistically significant (χ = 4.14, P = 0. 12). Nausea, vomiting and drowsiness were significantly more in the pentazocine + diclofenac combination (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Both combination of analgesics provided adequate analgesia but pentazocine + diclofenac combination had better pain relief but was more associated with side effects.