Authors : Chandrakantha T, Rajesh B, Neha K
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijpp.2019.030
Volume : 6
Issue : 4
Year : 2019
Page No : 137-141
Objectives: To evaluate the pattern of analgesic prescription in post-operative pain management and the preferred analgesics based on assessment of pain in post-operative patients.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was done by analysing the case records of patients who underwent surgery in the departments of Orthopaedics, General Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynecology. The evaluation of postoperative pain was done at fixed time intervals according to Visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate the preferred analgesic pattern. ANOVA was the test of significance to identify the mean difference.
Results: The use of conventional NSAIDs like Diclofenac (48%) and Paracetamol (29.6%) was seen more in the present study. All the patients were prescribed with injectable analgesics on the day of surgery (Day 0) and also on 1st post-operative day (day1). Mean pain scores measured at 2 hours and 6 hours were significantly higher in Group A compared to Group B and C. The maximum reduction in the mean pain scores was seen in group C at 2 hrs and group B at 6 hrs respectively. The difference in the mean pain scores in group B and group C was not significant at 2 and 6 hrs post-operatively.
Conclusion: The post operative cases can be managed with conventional NSAIDs and non NSAIDs like Tramadol to little extent. The prescription of drugs in brand name could be changed to Generic name. There is scope for improvement of rational prescribing by introducing appropriate educational interventions.
Keywords: Drug utilization pattern, Analgesics, Post-operative pain, Visual analog scale.