Abstract
We compared the efficacy of preoperative intramuscular lornoxicam and ketoprofen for post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study investigated 60 patients who received lornoxicam (group L, 8 mg), ketoprofen (group K, 100 mg) or saline (group C) 60 min before standard anaesthesia. All patients received patient-controlled analgesia (intravenous morphine) during the post-operative period. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores recorded 2, 4, 6 and 12 h after surgery in groups L and K patients were significantly lower than in group C patients, and VAS scores at 2, 4 and 6 h in group L patients were significantly lower than those in group K patients. Morphine consumption in groups L and K was significantly lower than in group C. Pre-emptive administration of lornoxicam and ketoprofen effectively reduced post-operative pain and morphine consumption, and lornoxicam was more effective than ketoprofen in the early post-operative period.