Comparison of the Efficacy of Postoperative Diclofenac Suppository with Intramuscular Diclofenac in Children Undergoing Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Abstract

Objective: To compare the analgesic effect of postoperative Diclofenac suppository with intramuscular Diclofenac in children undergoing inguinal hernia surgery. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Paeds Surgery Department of Services Hospital Lahore, from August 2016 to March 2017. A total of 160 patients were included in the study and were divided into two groups, one receiving diclofenac suppository (Group DS) and the other group DI which received intramuscular diclofenac injection. Numerical variables like age and weight were analyzed statistically by taking their mean and standard deviation while the outcome variable like the severity of pain was categorized as no pain, mild, moderate and severe pain in frequency percentage at 0, 2 and 4 hours’ interval. Results: Total 160 patients were divided into 2 groups equally, 80 in each (DS & DI). There was no significant difference in the efficacy of diclofenac suppository and diclofenac intramuscular when calculated at 0, 2 and 4 hours’ interval. When Chi-Square was applied to determine the association, it was observed that pain severity was significantly associated with age. However, the association of pain severity with weight and with time intervals in two groups was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: There was no significant difference between the postoperative analgesic effect of either suppository or intramuscular diclofenac but suppository route has an advantage over intramuscular in that it is easier and safer, less prone to injury, easy to administer and has a longer duration of action, especially preferable in pediatric patients.