RESUMO
A new sequential test has been used to compare the effect of paracetamol and placebo on uterine cramping. Paracetamol was significantly superior to placebo at the 5% level. 75 patients were included in the trial, whereas in a fixed sample study 90 patients would have been required to obtain the same significance level and power. The magnitude of the difference in treatment effect was estimated following the sequential test. In addition to the effect on uterine pain, which was the primary variable, the effect on episiotomy pain was also estimated. Paracetamol was also superior to placebo against the episiotomy pain.
Assuntos
Acetaminofen/uso terapêutico , Episiotomia , Dor Pós-Operatória/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Medição da Dor , Placebos , Período Pós-Parto , Útero/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
The efficacy of naproxen and paracetamol in relieving uterine cramps has been compared in a sequential trial. The treatments did not differ significantly in a two-sided test in 56 patients. A corresponding fixed sample test would have required 140 patients to obtain the same significance level and power. In addition to uterine pain, the effect on episiotomy pain was also estimated at the termination of the trial. Again, there seemed to be no difference between naproxen and paracetamol.