Many patients present to day surgery clinics for vaginal termination of pregnancy, a procedure which is frequently complicated by postoperative abdominal pain. We have assessed the efficacy of prophylactic paracetamol 1000 mg given orally shortly before surgery in 834 such patients in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Postoperative pain was reported in 35 % of patients, with no significant difference between treated and control patients. This negative finding was unexpected and is so far unexplained, given the usual efficacy of oral paracetamol in relieving this type of pain after it has occurred.
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