Effects of magnesium sulphate on postoperative analgesia in inguinal hernia repair

Background and Âlthough some studies have demonstrated the effect of magnesium sulphate on reducing the postoperative pain, some others have refuted this and showed that it has limited or no effect. Ïn this study, the researchers investigated the effects of pre- and intraoperative magnesium sulphate administration on the postoperative pain and opioid consumption. Ïn a randomized double blind clinical trial with using placebo in the control group, thirty-two patients with the age range of 15-74 undergoing inguinal surgery in Ïmam Khomeini Hospital in Sari were nonrandomly divided into two equal groups. The patients in the magnesium sulphate group received magnesium sulphate 50 mg/kg/h ÏV, 15 minutes before until one hour during the surgery, whereas patients in the control group received the same volume of normal saline 20cc (infusion with similar volume) over the same time. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.. Postoperative pain was significantly lower in magnesium sulphate group in comparison to control group. Ât 2, 6, 12 and 24 hrs after the operation, the mean VÂS for control and case groups were 8.50± 0.894, 7.06± 1.94, (P=0.012), 8.31± 1.07, 6.63± 1.360 (P=0.001), 8.06± 1.124, 4.75±1.125 (P=0.001), 7.31±1.45, 4.06±0.85 (P=0.001), 6.69±1.40, 0.63±1.02 (P=0.001), respectively. Çonclusion: Ïntraoperative magnesium sulphate infusion in inguinal surgery considerably decreases postoperative pain in the first 24 hours after operation.