Comparison of intravenous paracetamol and tramadol for postoperative analgesia in patients with septo-rhinoplasty

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of i.v. tramadol and i.v. paracetamol for postoperative analgesia after septo-rhinoplasty operation. Method: Fifty American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status I-II patients, aged between 18-50, receiving septo-rhinoplasty operation are included in the study. The patients were randomly divided into two groups for postoperative analgesia. In Group I; i.v. paracetamol 1 gr was infused 30 minutes before the end of the operation. In Group II; i.v. tramadol 1 mg kg -1 was given 20 minutes before the end of the operation. A blinded observer recorded the pain intensity, analgesic need, patient satisfaction and side effects of drugs for postoperative at 1 h, 6 h and 24 h hours. Results: The VAS values are similar in both groups at postoperative 1st hour, no statistically significant differences were found (p> 0.05). VAS values for group II were significantly lower than group 1 at 6 h and 24 h postoperatively (p< 0.05). No serious side-effects were recorded during the study. The most frequent adverse effect was nausea (25%) in group II. No significant difference was found between groups in terms of vomiting (p>0.05), whereas the rate of nausea was significantly lower in group I than group II. Cortisol levels significantly decreased in both groups at postoperative period. Conclusion: Intravenous paracetamol administration provided adequate analgesia as opioids especially at early postoperative period for mild-moderate pain therapy in perioperative period.