Effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on platelet activity

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time in healthy subjects. We have studied the effect of i.v. tenoxicam during caesarean delivery on skin bleeding time, operative, and postoperative blood loss, and beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 as specific molecular markers for platelet activity.

Fifty women were studied. Twenty-five were given tenoxicam 20 mg i.v. 10 min before induction of general anaesthesia, and 25 formed a control group. Skin bleeding time and platelet markers were determined the day before and 1 h after induction of anaesthesia.

In the tenoxicam group, there was an slight increase in skin bleeding time with no statistically significant changes in platelet marker levels. In the control group, platelet markers increased 1 h after surgery. The surgeon's assessment of uterine relaxation, using a visual analogue score, operating theatre blood loss, and the frequency of bleeding over 24 h after operation, showed no significant difference between the two groups.

During caesarean delivery i.v. tenoxicam causes a slight increase in bleeding time with no significant changes in platelet marker levels.