Tramadol-metoclopramide or remifentanil for patient-controlled analgesia during second trimester abortion: a...

To compare patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) with tramadol with PCA with remifentanil in second trimester abortion.

Prospective, randomized double-blinded study

University-affiliated medical center.

30 ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients undergoing a second trimester abortion.

Patients received PCA with either tramadol or remifentanil. Analgesia was initiated in the tramadol group by an initial loading dose of tramadol 1.0 mg/kg with 10 mg of metoclopramide followed by a PCA bolus of 0.3 mg/kg/mL of tramadol every 5 minutes. For remifentanil, which does not require a loading dose, a placebo of 100 mL of 0.9% normal saline was given followed by PCA of 0.4 μg/kg/mL every two minutes.

Women were evaluated for pain via verbal analog score (VAS; 0-100), sedation, nausea, blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. On the day of discharge, women were analyzed for overall satisfaction. Primary outcome was pain scores and general satisfaction.

Analysis by time yielded no statistically significant difference in VAS scores between the groups at any point except 16-20 hours after induction of labor, when pain was lower in the tramadol group (11.3 ± 18.1 vs. 36.7 ± 27.4; P = 0.04). The average VAS score was low in both groups, with no significant differences noted between groups (P = 0.74). Satisfaction scores were high in both groups, with no significant differences noted between them (P = 0.89).

Both drugs are acceptable choices for pain control in patients undergoing second trimester abortions.