Role of intravenous paracetamol as an adjunct to epidural analgesia in immediate postoperative period in abdominal cancer surgeries

Aims and Objectives: To evaluate analgesic efficacy and side effects of intravenous paracetamol, also assess IV-PCA morphine consumption in patients undertaken abdominal cancer surgery. Materials and Methods: Total 160 ASA grade I and II patients of both the sex, between age 18-70 years were randomly divided in two equal groups to receive either IV paracetamol 1gm or no paracetamol after surgery. Hemodynamic parameters, pain intensity scores, amount of morphine consumption and side effects were recorded. Results: The control group had higher mean heart rate, mean arterial blood pressures, mean respiratory rate than paracetamol group. Pain intensity score was much higher in control group at any time which needed considerably higher dose of rescue analgesic (IV morphine) for pain control than paracetamol group. We found no significant difference statistically in sedation scores in patients using patient controlled analgesia in either group. Side effects were found to be lower in paracetamol group compared to control group but difference was not significant statistically. Conclusion: Paracetamol is safe and effective drug for postoperative analgesia with negligible side effects.