The Effect of Premedication with Oral Acetaminophen on the Prevention of Localized Pain Resulting from Intravenous Propofol Injection: A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Clinical Trial

Propofol is one of the most widely used medications in anesthesia and intensive care. Propofol Intravenous injection is painful for patients at the injection site. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of premedication with oral acetaminophen in prevention of local pain caused by intravenous injection of propofol.

This study was a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Data were collected from July 2020 to July 2021 in Shariati Hospital. All stages of premedication and induction of anesthesia were the same in all three groups of patients. Pb, P500 and P1000 groups (patients with oral placebo, 500 or 1000 mg of oral paracetamol, respectively) received the medication 1 hour before transfer to the operating room.

In this study, 150 patients were included. 44.7% were men, 55.3% women, and mean age of patients was 36.82 ± 10.24. The highest severity of reported pain was in the group of patients receiving placebo. Patients receiving 1 gram of acetaminophen had the lowest reported pain. Patients receiving 500 mg of acetaminophen reported significantly less pain than patients receiving placebo and more pain than patients in the group receiving 1 g of acetaminophen. Age, gender and weight did not have any significant effect on the pain severity.

When compared to placebo, the use of oral acetaminophen as a premedication considerably lowers discomfort induced by intravenous propofol infusion. A dosage of 1 g of oral acetaminophen is more effective than 500 mg in decreasing pain. The level of pain and acetaminophen's pain-relieving effects were not affected by age, gender or weight.