Abstract
Caesarean section (CS) is one of the most common major obstetric surgeries worldwide. Pain control is an integral part of recovery after caesarean section, and NSAIDs have been used in combination with opioids for postoperative pain management in recent times. This study was conceived to compare the efficacy of rectal diclofenac and intramuscular diclofenac as an adjunct to intramuscular pentazocine in the management of postoperative pain in women who had undergone elective caesarean section. The objective was to compare the efficacy of rectal diclofenac with intramuscular diclofenac as pain relief among women after elective Caesarean section at Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA). This was a randomized controlled trial conducted among pregnant women booked for elective Caesarean section at AEFUTHA, comparing the efficacy of rectal diclofenac with intramuscular diclofenac as pain relief among women after elective caesarean section at term. One arm received a 100mg diclofenac suppository, and the other arm received 75mg of intramuscular diclofenac. These drugs were repeated every 12 h for 24 h. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS and the intention-to-treat concept. A P-value of < 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean pain scores between the two groups. The number of times maternal request for additional analgesia was also statistically significant. Rectal diclofenac in addition to intramuscular pentazocine was more effective in pain control compared to intramuscular diclofenac in addition to intramuscular pentazocine.
Key words: Rectal diclofenac, intramuscular diclofenac, caesarean section, pain relief.
