Comparison of lornoxicam with tramadol in patient-controlled analgesia after gynecological surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of lornoxicam and tramadol in patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after gynecological surgery. METHODS: Forty-four patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups after elective gynecological surgery. Patients in group I (n = 22) received IV tramadol, and group II patients (n = 2) received IV lornoxicam with a PCA pump. A visual analogue scale (VAS) (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain), hemodynamic parameters and side-effects were assessed before starting the infusion (baseline), at the 15th and 30th min, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 18th, 24th, 36th and 48th hour thereafter, and results were compared. RESULTS: Adequate analgesia was achieved in both groups. VAS values in the tramadol group were lower than those of lornoxiacam at the 15th and 30th minute, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 12th hour measurements (p < 0.05). Eight patients (36.3%) in group I and six patients (27.2%) in group II suffered from nausea (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Tramadol and lornoxicam may be used for pain control after gynecological surgery via PCA. However, we conclude that tramadol has better analgesic efficacy than lornoxicam during the first 12 hours postoperatively.