From the Guidelines
Paracetamol and NSAIDs are recommended as baseline analgesics after suture.
Prescription Analgesic Options
- Paracetamol: a simple, non-opioid analgesic, is considered a baseline analgesic for postoperative pain management 1
- NSAIDs: also a non-opioid analgesic, is recommended as a baseline analgesic for postoperative pain management, due to its efficacy and safety profile 1 The use of these analgesics is based on the procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) approach, which assesses the available evidence for current clinical relevance and balances the invasiveness of the analgesic interventions and the degree of pain after surgery, as well as balancing efficacy and adverse effects 1.
From the Research
Prescription Analgesics after Suture
- The choice of prescription analgesic after suture depends on various factors, including the type of surgery, patient's medical history, and the surgeon's preference.
- According to a study published in 2019 2, traumeel, a homeopathic medication, was found to be superior to ibuprofen in managing pain after flap surgery, with minimal or no side effects.
- A Cochrane review published in 2015 3 found that ibuprofen 200 mg plus paracetamol 500 mg, ibuprofen fast acting 200 mg, and diclofenac potassium 50 mg were effective in providing at least 50% maximum pain relief over four to six hours compared with placebo.
- Another study published in 2017 4 recommended a multimodal approach to managing acute pain after surgery, which includes the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, and other agents with differing mechanisms of action.
- A study published in 2012 5 developed a local anesthetic-eluting suture system that released bupivacaine over a period of 12 days, providing local analgesia for approximately 1 week after surgery.
- However, a study published in 2015 6 found no difference in postoperative pain between absorbable and nonabsorbable suture materials used in cesarean skin closure.