Intraoperative combined administration of indomethacin and buprenorphine suppositories as prophylactic therapy for post-open-cholecystectomy pain.

Buprenorphine and indomethacin are quite different pharmacologically. The objective of this study was to determine the analgesic effect from their combined administration in suppository form. Eighty patients undergoing open cholecystectomy under nitrous oxide-oxygen-sevoflurane anesthesia, in addition to epidural anesthesia using lidocaine, were divided into four groups: Group A received buprenorphine 0.4 mg and indomethacin 50 mg; Group B, buprenorphine 0.4 mg; Group C, indomethacin 50 mg; and Group D, no drug. The drugs were administered after induction of general anesthesia. One patient was withdrawn because of the administration of the wrong drug. Patients in Group A required fewer analgesics, had a longer period of analgesic effect from the end of surgery, and enjoyed a better pain score. This group also included more patients who required no analgesics. We conclude that the combined administration of opioid and nonopioid suppositories may provide far better prophylactic analgesia than a single drug.