A drug utilization study of analgesics for management of postoperative pain in patients admitted at a tertiary care teaching hospital

Background: Postoperative pain is very common and develops naturally as a warning. After surgery, its development can be predicted and should be prevented and treated. Besides the disagreeable aspects and physiological repercussions of postoperative pain, it delays ambulation and hospital discharge. Despite the drugs and anesthetic techniques available, the prevalence of postoperative pain is still high. Methods: Pain assessment was done by BP cuff inflation method and Numerical rating scales both pre and postoperatively. Results: Complain of postoperative pain is more in female patient. Over all complain of postoperative pain was observed more in 31-45 year age group. Complain of postoperative pain was more at 18 hour time interval. Postoperative pain complains was more in patients undergoing general surgery. Postoperatively out of 310 patients 298 patients were received diclofenac only and 18 patients were received diclofenac + tramadol combination of these 112 and 13 patients complained of post-operative pain respectively. Conclusions: 112 patients from diclofenac only received group and 13 patients from diclofenac + tramadol received group complain of post operative pain. Post-operative pain control at 12 hours is sufficient but high post-operative pain scores at 18 hour of post-operative time interval suggesting needs of additional pain control. Majority of study patients received single analgesic (Diclofenac sodium). [Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol 2013; 2(6.000): 757-762]