ABSTRACT

Aim: To compare the analgesic efficacy of oral tramadol with intravenous analgesic postoperatively in patients with caesarean section.

Study design: Randomized controlled trial

Place and duration of study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital, Sialkot from 1^stJune 2019 to 30^th November 2019.

Methods: Two hundred and sixty patients with lower segment cesarean section were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two equal groups. Group I consisted of 130 patients and received oral tramadol and group II with 130 patients received Nalbuphine intravenously. Pain scores were compared using visual analogue scale at 4, 8 and 12 hours postoperatively. Patients with higher scores in group I were reverted to intravenous analgesia.

Results: No significant difference was observed regarding age and BMI in both groups. No significant difference was observed regarding postoperative pain by VAS between both groups postoperatively at 4 hours, and at 12 hours with p-value >0.05, but at 8 hours, oral group had significantly high pain score as compared to intravenous group (p- value 0.024). 13 patients in group I (oral group) required rescue intravenous analgesia at 8hours postoperatively while 3 patients in group II required rescue analgesia, so a significant difference was observed with p-value 0.02.

Conclusion: Oral tramadol is safe and effective in reducing postoperative pain.