Comparison of single dose of paracetamol with single dose of dexamethasone on postoperative pain of patients undergoing septoplasty surgery

Postoperative pain is common and different drugs have been used for reducing pain, opioids requirements and decreasing their adverse effects. Dexamethasone and paracetamol as effective analgesics with little adverse effects have been used for acute and chronic pain extensively.Object: Comparison of single dose of paracetamol with single dose of dexamethasone on postoperative pain of patients undergoing septoplasty surgery. In a single blind clinical trial 99 patients 18 to 60 years with ASA class I and II undergoing septoplasty divided into 3 groups: group 1 received 1 gr paracetamol IV in 100 ml normal saline, group 2 dexamethasone IV 0.1 mg/kg in 10 ml normal saline and group 3 normal saline 100 ml infusion after induction. Pain scores were recorded and compared between 3 groups at 0, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery. Dexamethasone and paracetamol groups had significant lesser pain score than control group at all times after surgery (p<0.05). In paracetamol group pain score was significantly lower than dexamethasone group at 0, 2 and 6 hours after surgery (P<0.05). Opioid consumption in these 2 groups also was lower than control group. A single dose of intravenous paracetamol or dexamethasone can be effective in reducing post-operative pain after septoplasty; but paracetamol is more effective than dexamethasone.