Preoperative rectal indomethacin for analgesia after laparoscopic sterilisation

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted among 56 day-case patients to determine the effect of the preoperative administration of rectal indomethacin on postoperative pain and opioid requirements after laparoscopic sterilisation. Outcome in women receiving indomethacin did not differ significantly from the placebo group, but there was a trend to lower subjective pain scores, reduction in early postoperative pain assessed objectively and lower parenteral pethidine requirements in the first three hours postoperatively. Indomethacin did not appear either to cause side-effects or to significantly reduce morbidity from the other postoperative sequelae of laparoscopy. Despite evidence for postoperative analgesic effect, the clinical benefits of premedication with rectal indomethacin were minor.