Application of parecoxib in post-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty analgesia.

Objective To investigate the postoperative analgesic effects of parecoxib for uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Methods Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome who underwent UPPP were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, the incision-local block was performed with 5ml of 0.5% ropivacaine injected subcutaneously before the end of surgery, then 20ml of physiological saline was injected intravenously every 12h for 2 days. In group B, in addition to the incision-local block, 40mg parecoxib was injected intravenously 30min before the end of UPPP and 40mg parecoxib was injected intravenously every 12h for 2 days. Postoperative pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Adverse reactions were recorded. Results A total of 40 patients were randomized (n=20 per group). Under resting conditions, the meanSD VAS pain scores were significantly higher in group A compared with group B at 24h and 48h after UPPP (24h 4.0 +/- 0.8 versus 2.6 +/- 0.6; 48h 3.8 +/- 0.7 versus 2.4 +/- 0.5; respectively). Under swallowing conditions, the mean +/- SD VAS pain scores were significantly higher in group A compared with group B at 8h, 24h and 48h after UPPP. Postoperative adverse reactions were similar in the two groups. Conclusion Intravenous parecoxib combined with incision-local ropivacaine provided effective postoperative analgesia for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, undergoing UPPP.