Comparison of Efficacy of Lornoxicam and Diclofenac for Postoperative Pain Relief in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Hysterectomy

Aims & Objectives: The present study was undertaken to compare the analgesic effect of Lornoxicam vis-à-vis diclofenac for postoperative pain relief in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. Material & Methods: A total of 60 aduts patients having physical status grade I and II according to American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under general anaesthesia were included in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to one of the two groups. Each group consisted of 30 patients. Group I Patients were administered lornoxicam 8mg intramuscular at the time of closure of the wound and was repeated 12 hourly for the next 48 hours. Group II Patients were administered diclofenac 75mg intramuscularly at time of wound closure and was repeated 12 hourly for the next 48 hours. Intravenous morphine was used as rescue analgesia in both groups with patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump. Results: Requirement of morphine (rescue analgesia) in lornoxicam group was 50.0 ± 4.74 mg while in the diclofenac group, it was 30.2 ± 3.24 mg during the study period (48 hours). Requirement of morphine in first 24 hours in the lornoxicam group (Group I) was 26.90 ± 3.81mg while in diclofenac group (Group II) it was 24.10 ±3.89 mg, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Requirement of morphine between 24–48 hours was 23.10 ± 4.99 mg in the lornoxicam group, while it was 6.10 ± 2.99 mg in the diclofenac group and the difference was statistically significant (p <0.001). The requirement of morphine at 24 to 36 hours in the lornoxicam group was 11.3 ± 3.40mg while in the diclofenac group, it was 3.60 ± 1.99mg (p<0.001). The requirement of morphine at 36 to 48 hours was 11.80 ± 3.24 mg, while in the diclofenac group, it was 2.50±1.59 mg (p<0.001). Conclusions: Diclofenac sodium when used in doses of (75 mg 12 hourly) proved to be a better analgesic when compared to lornoxicam (8 mg 12 hourly).