Parecoxib, propacetamol, and their combination for analgesia after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed non-inferiority of parecoxib vs. combination parecoxib+propacetamol and compared the opioid-sparing effects of parecoxib, propacetamol, and parecoxib+propacetamol vs. placebo after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, non-inferiority study, patients received one of four IV treatments after surgery: parecoxib 40 mg bid (n = 72); propacetamol 2 g qid (n = 71); parecoxib 40 mg bid plus propacetamol 2 g qid (n = 72); or placebo (n = 38) with supplemental IV patient-controlled analgesia (morphine). Patients and investigators were blinded to treatment. Pain intensity at rest and with movement was assessed regularly, together with functional recovery (modified Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form) and opioid-related side effects (Opioid-Related Symptom Distress Scale) questionnaires up to 48 h. RESULTS: After 24 h, cumulative morphine consumption was reduced by 59.8% (P < 0.001), 38.9% (P < 0.001), and 26.8% (P = 0.005) in the parecoxib+propacetamol, parecoxib, and propacetamol groups, respectively, compared with placebo. Parecoxib did not meet criteria for non-inferiority to parecoxib+propacetamol. Parecoxib+propacetamol and parecoxib significantly reduced least-squares mean pain intensity scores at rest and with movement compared with propacetamol (P < 0.05). One day after surgery, parecoxib+propacetamol significantly reduced opioid-related symptom distress and decreased pain interference with function compared with propacetamol or placebo. CONCLUSION: Parecoxib and parecoxib+propacetamol provided significant opioid-sparing efficacy compared with placebo; non-inferiority of parecoxib to parecoxib+propacetamol was not demonstrated. Opioid-sparing efficacy was accompanied by significant reductions in pain intensity on movement, improved functional outcome, and less opioid-related symptom distress. Study medications were well tolerated.

Teicoplanin treatment of alkaline encrusted cystitis due to Corynebacterium group D2.

Alkaline-encrusted cystitis (AEC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder related to the gram-positive bacillus Corynebacterium Group D2. This germ is often resistant to many antibiotics and is particularly difficult to eradicate in the particular setting of AEC. The authors report two observations of AEC treated with the glycopeptid antibiotic teicoplanin, which led to permanent cure of AEC.

Brachial plexus block with bupivacaine: effects of added alpha-adrenergic agonists: comparison between clonidine and epinephrine.

The effects of clonidine and epinephrine, administered into the brachial plexus sheath, were evaluated in 60 patients who underwent surgery of the upper limb. All patients received 40 to 50 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine, injected into the brachial plexus sheath, using the supraclavicular technique. The patients were randomly allocated to two groups so that 30 patients received 150 micrograms clonidine hydrochloride (Group I), and 30 received 200 micrograms epinephrine (Group II). The quality and the duration of analgesia were assessed as well as the possible side-effects. The block produced with the addition of clonidine was longer (994.2 +/- 34.2 vs 728.3 +/- 35.8 min) and superior to that with epinephrine (P less than 0.001). No major side-effects were recorded. We conclude that the injection of clonidine into the brachial plexus sheath is an attractive alternative to epinephrine to prolong the duration of analgesia following upper limb surgery under conduction anaesthesia.

Brachial plexus block with opioids for postoperative pain relief: comparison between buprenorphine and morphine.

The effectiveness of buprenorphine and morphine, administered into the brachial plexus sheath, was evaluated in 40 patients, aged 18-90 years. All patients received 40 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine, injected into the brachial plexus sheath using the supraclavicular technique. In addition, the 20 patients in Group I received morphine hydrochloride (50 micrograms/kg), while the 20 patients in Group II received buprenorphine hydrochloride (3 micrograms/kg). Using a three-point pain scale, the quality of analgesia was evaluated every hour for six hours, every two hours for the next six hours, and then at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours. A significant difference in the quality of analgesia was found; and was consistently superior with buprenorphine as compared with morphine. The duration of analgesia was nearly twice as long in the buprenorphine group as in the morphine group (35.05 +/- 1.95 hour versus 18.25 +/- 1.15 hour). We conclude that buprenorphine injection into the brachial plexus sheath is an efficient way to assure control of postoperative pain after upper limb surgery.