Efficacy of oral diclofenac as preemptive analgesic for pterygium surgery
Anabelle F. Galias, MD, Teofilo R. Bulosan, MD, Danilo Q. Reyno, MD, Amiel N. Rodriguez, MD, Rosalina T. Babao
Objective
To determine the efficacy of oral diclofenac as preemptive analgesic for pterygium excision.
Methods
A prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial was carried out involving 30 patients diagnosed with pterygium. They were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or oral diclofenac. A single surgeon performed the same technique of pterygium excision. Pain scores were determined using visual-analog-scale (VAS) questionnaires handed out to participants 30 minutes and 24 hours after surgery. Collected data were analyzed using two-tailed t-test, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test.
Results
There was no statistical difference between VAS pain scores in both groups in the intra- (p = 0.33) and postoperative periods (p = 0.46). No statistically significant difference was noted on the intake (p = 0.68) and dose (0.18) of supplemental analgesia. There appeared to be a trend for lower pain scores in the intraoperative (VAS = 2.00 ± 1.89 for diclofenac vs. 2.73 ± 2.22 for control) and postoperative (VAS = 3.86 ± 2.92 for diclofenac vs. 4.60 ± 2.44 for control) periods with intake of diclofenac. This group also took less supplemental analgesics.
Conclusion
The preemptive use of oral diclofenac showed a trend toward less intraand postoperative pain, and less need for supplemental analgesics after pterygium surgery.
Keywords: Oral diclofenac, Preemptive analgesia, Pterygium surgery, Surgical pain