Controlled-release oxycodone versus naproxen at home after ambulatory surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Pharmacology
• Ambulatory Surgery

Background:

• Strong opioids for home use post-ambulatory surgery are understudied due to safety concerns like respiratory depression.
• Assessing the safety and efficacy of different analgesics in the home setting is crucial for patient recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of paracetamol/controlled-release (CR) oxycodone versus paracetamol/naproxen for acute postoperative pain at home.
• To evaluate secondary outcomes including adverse effects, patient satisfaction, and analgesic compliance.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 105 patients undergoing knee arthroscopy or hernia repair surgery.
• Patients were assigned to receive either paracetamol/naproxen, paracetamol/CR oxycodone for 24 hours, or paracetamol/CR oxycodone for 48 hours.
• Pain intensity, satisfaction, and side effects were recorded for up to 48 hours postoperatively.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in pain intensity (at movement or rest) were observed between the paracetamol/naproxen and paracetamol/CR oxycodone groups.
• No major adverse effects were reported, and patient satisfaction was high across all treatment groups.
• Medication compliance was similar among groups, though some patients with low pain scores did not use their prescribed medication.

Conclusions:

• Paracetamol/CR oxycodone and paracetamol/naproxen demonstrate equivalent efficacy for managing acute postoperative pain at home following ambulatory surgery.
• Both regimens result in comparable levels of patient satisfaction.
• Paracetamol/CR oxycodone presents a valuable alternative to paracetamol/naproxen, especially for patients with contraindications to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).