Preoperative indomethacin for pain relief after thoracotomy: comparison with postoperative indomethacin.

Indomethacin commenced before operation was compared with postoperative indomethacin administration for pain relief in patients after elective thoracic surgery. In addition to indomethacin, all patients received i.v. opioids titrated to their individual requirements. There was no significant difference between the two groups in quality of pain relief, in cumulative opioid requirement or in the incidence of adverse effects. The quality of pain relief compared well with previous similar studies using this technique.