Indomethacin in the management of postoperative pain

We have examined the analgesic effects of indomethacin in a double-blind study of 56 patients undergoing surgery for lumbar disc prolapse. The patients were allocated randomly to receive either indomethacin 100 mg i.v. before surgery, followed by 100 mg rectally 6 and 12 h after surgery and at 08:00, 16:00 and 23:00 on the next day, or placebo. Postoperative pain was assessed using a 10-cm visual analogue scale at fixed times. Side effects and consumption of supplementary analgesics were recorded. Patients receiving placebo had significantly greater pain scores and significantly more patients in the placebo group required supplementary analgesics.