Randomized trial of oral versus intravenous acetaminophen for postoperative pain control

Pain control after major orthopedic surgery is a huge challenge. Published studies have confirmed that intravenous acetaminophen was effective and safe for reducing pain. The efficacy of intravenous (i.v.) versus oral acetaminophen for pain control has been in controversy. Therefore the present study revealed that the patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, oral acetaminophen was equivalent to i.v. administeration in controlling pain in the immediate postoperative period.

Outcomes of an analysis comparing pain control results with preoperative oral versus intraoperative i.v. Acetaminophen usage among adults going through the total knee or hip arthroplasty is described.

The patients received either 2 oral placebo capsules after an i.v. infusion of acetaminophen 1,000 mg/100 mL (i.v. Group) or 2500 mg capsules of acetaminophen prior to surgery, with an i.v. placebo infusion at the time of surgery (oral group). A follow up of patients were done after a postanesthesia care unit (PACU) admission up to 24 hours after the treatment.

No considerable differences in preoperative and intraoperative usage of pain therapy between the oral and i.v. Groups were noticed in a modified intention-to-treat analysis. Both groups also exhibited similar postoperative opioid use ( MMEs).

Among the subjects who going through the knee or hip arthroplasty, administrated preoperative oral acetaminophen was identical to i.v. acetaminophen is given in the operating suite to manage pain during the immediate postoperative period. The I.V. acetaminophen was not better than oral acetaminophen in lessening the total length of hospital stay, postoperative vomiting and nausea, time to the first dose of as-needed pain medicine, time to ambulation, and duration of PACU stay.