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Preoperative administration of etoricoxib in patients undergoing hip replacement causes inhibition of inflammatory mediators and pain relief
Author(s) -
Renner B.,
Walter G.,
Strauss J.,
Fromm M.F.,
Zacher J.,
Brune K.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/j.1532-2149.2011.00062.x
Subject(s) - etoricoxib , medicine , placebo , anesthesia , cyclooxygenase , ketorolac , randomized controlled trial , lornoxicam , surgery , analgesic , biochemistry , chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , enzyme
Objective Administering cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors preoperatively appears attractive since these drugs reduce post‐operative pain, but do not increase the risk of post‐operative bleeds, asthmatic attacks and stress‐related gastrointestinal ulcers. In a former investigation, we could show that post‐operative administration of etoricoxib reduces prostaglandin production in wound fluid, but the onset of action is variable due to delayed post‐operative absorption. Methods In this study, we investigated the preoperative administration of etoricoxib in patients undergoing hip replacement. They received 120 mg etoricoxib or placebo 2 h before surgery and 1 day after in a double‐blinded, randomized, parallel group design. Results A total of 11 patients were randomized (placebo n = 5; verum n = 6). We found high and constant levels of the drug in blood, central nervous system and wound fluid already at the end of surgery (t max < 2 h). This was accompanied by inhibition of prostaglandin production in the wound tissue (treatment p < 0.05), suppression of interleukin 6 increase in plasma (treatment p < 0.01), and – despite existing standard pain relief procedures – higher satisfaction with analgesics (time vs. treatment p < 0.05) and less demand for opioids (treatment p < 0.01) and intrathecal bupivacaine (treatment p = 0.05) administration. Conclusion Administration of etoricoxib 2 h before surgery allows for an effective drug concentration in critical tissues, a reduction of the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and for better pain relief.