ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bupivacaine, tramadol, and pethidine has local anesthetic effect. The aim of this study was to compare effect of subcutaneous (SC) infiltration of tramadol, pethidine, and bupivacaine on postoperative pain relief after cesarean delivery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 120 patient, scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, were randomly allocated to 1 of the 4 groups according to the drugs used for postoperative analgesia: Group P (Pethidine) 50 mg ,Group T (Tramadol) 40 mg, Group B (Bupivacaine 0.25%) 0.7 mg/kg, and Group C (control) 20CC normal saline injection in incision site of surgery. Pain intensity (VAS = visual analogous scale) at rest and on coughing and opioid consumption were assessed on arrival in the recovery room, and then 15, 30, 60 minutes and 2, 6, 12, 24 hours after that. RESULTS: VAS scores were significantly lower in groups T and P compared with groups B and C except for 24 hours (VAS rest) and 6 hours (VAS on coughing) postoperatively (P < 0.05). The number of patients requiring morphine were significantly different between the groups (105 doses vs. 87, 56, 46, doses for group C, B, T and P, respectively, P < 0.05) in all the times, except for 2 and 6 hours postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of subcutaneous pethidine or tramadol after cesarean section improves analgesia and has a significant morphine-sparing effect compared with bupivacaine and control groups.
