Author(s)

Eziaha Eric S. Ede, Ayodele A. Olaleye^*, John C. Irechukwu, Uchenna Nelson Nwaedu, Borniface N. Ejikeme, Vincent Chidiebere Ali, Bartholomew I. Olinya

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Pain management following caesarean section still remains a challenge in our environment. Most potent analgesics are either not readily available or expensive. Diclofenac suppository is an NSAID that can be used for postoperative analgesia. It is available and affordable. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of combined rectal diclofenac and intramuscular pentazocine with intramuscular pentazocine alone for post operative pain control following lower segment caesarean section. METHODOLOGY: A total of 120 women who met the selection criteria scheduled for caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia with bupivacaine were randomized into two equal groups to receive either 75 mg diclofenac suppository 12 hourly for 24 hours or one anusol suppository (the placebo) 12 hourly for 24 hours. Both groups received pentazocine as primary analgesia. RESULT: The primary outcome measure is the proportion of patients with severe pain at 24 hours using the visual analogue rating scale. Secondary outcome measures are the time from surgery to ambulation, Passage of flatus, maternal satisfaction and presence of complications. Statistical analysis was done using spss version 22 and graph pad statistical package. Student T-test was used for continuous variables whereas chi square was used for categorical variables P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant rectal diclofenac is superior to pentazocine alone in the management of pain after caesarean section. Less number of patients had moderate to severe pain at 24 hours post operation. Maternal satisfaction in relation to pain management is better with diclofenac suppository. The levels of complications were comparable in both groups.

Pain, Caesarean Section, Diclofenac, Placebo, Suppository

Ede, E. , Olaleye, A. , Irechukwu, J. , Nwaedu, U. , Ejikeme, B. , Ali, V. and Olinya, B. (2024) Adjuvant Rectal Diclofenac for Post Operative Analgesia after Caesarean Section—A Randomized Controlled Study. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 14, 591-609. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2024.144052.