[Multimodal approach to postoperative analgesia in patients with neuropathic pain]

Chronic neuropathic pain syndrome observed prior to surgery not only influences the intensity of pain, but also reduces the efficiency of selective use of analgesics. The purpose of the investigation was to study the efficiency of various analgesics and their combinations after lumbar microdiskectomy. Seventy-six patients who had undergone lumbar microdiskectomy and who suffered from chronic back pain were examined. According to the mode of postoperative analgesia, the patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) 20 patients received i. m. promedol 20 mg (a control group); 2) 20 had i. v. tramal (patient-controlled anesthesia); 3) 18 were given i. v. xefocam 24 mg/day; 4) 18 i. v. ketamine 0.1 mg/kg/hour + i. v. xefocam 24 mg/day. Their analgesic effect was evaluated using a visual analogue scale 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours after surgery. The use of xefocam in combination with microdose ketamine was ascertained to cause no increase in the frequency of adverse reactions, to upgrade the quality of analgesia, and to minimize the intensity of pain 24 hours following surgery.