Analgesic efficiency of propacetamol hydrochlorid after lumbar disc surgery

The influence of intravenous propacetamol hydrochlorid administration on postoperative analgesia and intramuscular opioid consumption was assessed in a randomized placebo-controlled study. Fourty patients scheduled for lumbar disc surgery were randomly allocated to two groups. They were given either propacetamol 2 g or saline every 6 hours, starting at the end of procedure for a 24 hours period. The pain intensity (VAS) was not significantly different between the two groups except 3 and 4 hours after surgery, where it was higher in the paracetamol group. The cumulative narcotic consumption (piritramide on request) was higher in the placebo group from 6 hours till 9 hours after surgery but not significantly different after 24 hours. Piritramide administration decreased VAS score significantly in both groups while propacetamol reduced it in a significant way only when given from 12 hours after surgery.