Comparing the effect of intramuscular injection of pethidine and diclofenac suppository in relief of pain following laminectomy surgery

ABSTRACT

Pain, particularly after surgery, can create a variety of side effects including delay in wound healing. Different drugs such as pethidine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used for relieving patient's pain after surgery. The purpose of this research was to compare effect of pethidine vs. diclofenac suppository in relief of pain after laminectomy. A total of 100 patients who underwent laminectomy entered this study. They were divided into pethidine and diclofenac groups. The patients' pain score was measured with visual analog scale [VAS] method. The mean pain score 24 hours after surgery was 2.8 +/- 2.0 in pethidine group and 4.46 +/- 2.30 in diclofenac group. There was a significant statistical difference between pain score after surgery in two groups [P < 0.05]. Nausea was the most common side effect observed in pethidine group [20%] and epigastric pain was the most common one in diclofenac group [18%]. There wasn't any statistical significant difference between side effects in these two groups. It seems that pethidine injection is more effective than diclofenac suppository in relieving pain after laminectomy