Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of diclofenac and morphine on pain of appendectomy patients

Pain after appendectomy is the most common complaint of appendectomy patients. The most common treatment of this pain is the use of narcotic analgesics. Because of the narcotic side effects, the researchers have evaluated appropriate alternative medications to alleviate postoperative pain of appendectomy patients. This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of diclofenac and morphine in appendectomy patients. This clinical trial study was performed on 60 patients undergoing appendectomy. The study population was appendectomy patients aged 49-15 years, who had hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti hospital of Sabzevar city, in 2012. To perform the study, two groups of 30 subjects were triple-blind randomized. The first group received narcotic analgesics, and the second group received diclofenac. Based on the numeric pain standard scale, patient’s pain was assessed within the first hour after the drugs uptake. Data were analyzed in SPSS 18 using the Pearson correlation coefficient and chi square test; and P<0.05 was statistically considered significant. There was no significant difference in pain relief between the two groups after one hour of dicloenac and morphine uptake, (p = 0.098); but after half an hour, the difference was significant (p = 0.001), so that pain, after injection of diclofenac was less than after injection of morphine (5.04 ± 2.26 vs. 6.47 ± 1.30, respectively). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most effective pain relief after appendectomy. So the basic plan to change this situation, and replace them with opioids is recommended.