Preoperative Intravenous Versus Oral Acetaminophen in Outpatient Surgery: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Control Trial

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Pharmacology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Acetaminophen is a key component of multimodal perioperative pain management.
• The route of administration (oral vs. intravenous) for preoperative acetaminophen may influence outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient-reported pain, opioid consumption, adverse opioid effects, PACU stay, and satisfaction between IV and oral acetaminophen.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different acetaminophen administration routes in outpatient surgery.

Main Methods:

• Double-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 120 outpatient surgery patients.
• Patients received either IV acetaminophen (oral placebo) or oral acetaminophen (IV placebo) preoperatively.
• Statistical analysis included Mann-Whitney U, independent samples t-test, and chi-squared test (P < .05 significance).

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in any measured outcome between the IV and oral acetaminophen groups.
• Patient-reported pain, opioid consumption, and satisfaction remained comparable regardless of administration route.

Conclusions:

• Oral acetaminophen is a viable and effective alternative to IV acetaminophen for preoperative pain management in patients who can tolerate oral intake.
• Supports the use of oral acetaminophen within multimodal pain strategies, potentially simplifying administration.