Comparing the Effects of Ketamine Alone and in Combination with Metoclopramide on Postoperative Pain

Controlling postoperative pain and its complications is a major issue in postoperative care and plays an important role in accelerating the recovery of patients. The present research compared the effects of ketamine alone and in combination with metoclopramide on postoperative pain.

This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on patients undergoing septorhinoplasty at Alzahra Hospital (Isfahan، Iran) in 2012. Patients were divided into two groups to intravenously receive either 10 mg metoclopramide combined with 0. 3 mg/kg ketamine or only 0. 3 mg/kg ketamine five minutes before the incision. Pain (based on a visual analogue scale)، vomiting، the required amount of morphine، and the side effects were evaluated in the two groups.

The two groups had a significant difference in pain intensity (P = 0. 028) and mean morphine consumption (P < 0. 001) 30 minutes-24 hours after the operation. There were also significant differences between the two groups in the incidence of nausea and vomiting during the 6th-12th postoperative hours (P = 0. 048 and 0. 035، respectively).

Combination of ketamine and metoclopramide was more effective than ketamine alone in reducing pain after septorhinoplasty. Therefore، the use of this combination is recommended in the absence of contraindications.