Prostaglandins mediate postoperative pain in Falope ring sterilization.

To test the hypothesis that prostaglandins mediate the high incidence of postoperative pain in patients undergoing mechanical tubal occlusion, we studied the effect of premedication with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor in patients having Falope ring sterilization. Fifty-two women were randomly divided into two groups in which 19 (study group) received a preoperative indomethacin rectal suppository (100 mg) while 33 (control group) received nothing. Postoperative narcotic analgesics were administered as required, and for persistent pain an indomethacin suppository was given in the recovery room. Twenty-four percent of the control group required a postoperative indomethacin suppository because of persisting pain compared to none of the study group (p less than 0.02). These results suggest that prostaglandins mediate, and premedication with a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor may lessen, postoperative pain in patients having Falope ring sterilization.