The Effect of Adding Metoclopramide to Subcutaneous Lidocaine on Postoperative Pain after Lower Abdominal Surgery with General Anesthesia

The analgesic properties of metoclopramide, an antiemetic agent, were investigated in some studies. The aim of this study was evaluation of adding metoclopramide to subcutaneous lidocaine on postoperative pain after lower abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.

In this study, 75 patients were randomized in to 3 equal groups in Al-Zahra hospital, Isfahan. In group A, the patients received intravenous lidocaine and subcutaneous metoclopramide; In group B, the patients received intravenous lidocaine and intravenous metoclopramide; and in group C, the patients received only intravenous lidocaine and normal saline. The postoperative pain (Visual analog scale or VAS) and complications recorded in each group. The data were collected in check list then were analyzed by one way ANOVA, chi-square, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

There were 20 men and 5 women in group A, 20 men and 5 women in group B, and 17 men and 8 women in group C. The VAS scores were significantly lower in the metoclopramide groups (groups A and B) than the group C (P < 0.05). 4% of patients in Group A, 12% in group B, and 0% in group C showed drug side effects (P = 0.08); also, 24% of patients in Group A, 20% in group B, and 68% in group C showed sugery/anesthesia complications (P = 0.01). The mean of postoperative required opioid drugs was significantly higher in group C (P < 0.01).

The results suggest that Metoclopramide administered either IV or SC added to SC lidocaine To has better analgesic effects on postoperative pain.The addition of Metoclopramide to Sc lidocaine provided better control of pain than SC lidocaine and IV Metoclopramide.