Abstract
Background: Post-craniotomy pain has been reported to be moderate to severe. Management of post-craniotomy pain is often inadequate, yet limited by the side effects of opioids. We aim to find out the efficacy of oral oxycodone as compared to oral codeine for the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in our institution. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of oral oxycodone versus oral codeine. 40 patients were randomized to the control group of codeine (n = 20) or the experimental group receiving oxycodone (n = 20) in addition to regular oral paracetamol for both groups of patients. Results: There was no difference in the visual analogue scale scores at 24 hours (2.78 versus 1.85, p = 0.11) or side effects in the oxycodone group compared with the codeine group. Conclusions: Oral oxycodone had similar efficacy as oral codeine in the management of post-craniotomy pain.
Highlights
Non-opioids have been the mainstay of treatment for post craniotomy pain due to the fear of side effects associated with opioids and the assumption that craniotomies were not painful procedures [1] [2]
We aim to find out the efficacy of oral oxycodone as compared to oral codeine for the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in our institution
A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of oral oxycodone versus oral codeine. 40 patients were randomized to the control group of codeine (n = 20) or the experimental group receiving oxycodone (n = 20) in addition to regular oral paracetamol for both groups of patients
Summary
Non-opioids have been the mainstay of treatment for post craniotomy pain due to the fear of side effects associated with opioids and the assumption that craniotomies were not painful procedures [1] [2]. Post-craniotomy pain has been reported to be moderate to severe in 80% of patients [1], and may persist for several days, in which case non-opioids may not be adequate to treat such pain. We aim to find out the efficacy of oral oxycodone as compared to oral codeine for the treatment of post-craniotomy pain in our institution. Methods: A randomized, double-blinded controlled trial was used to evaluate the efficacy of oral oxycodone versus oral codeine. Results: There was no difference in the visual analogue scale scores at 24 hours (2.78 versus 1.85, p = 0.11) or side effects in the oxycodone group compared with the codeine group. Conclusions: Oral oxycodone had similar efficacy as oral codeine in the management of post-craniotomy pain
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