ANALGESIC UTILIZATION IN POSTOPERATIVE CARE AT A TERTIARY CARE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NEPAL

Abstract

ABSTRACT A retrospective analysis of analgesics used in postoperative pain in abdominal surgery was done to develop base line data. Appendectomy and cholecystectomy each formed 38.63% while hernia repair constituted 22.74% of all the abdominal surgeries (422). NSAIDs were the most commonly prescribed group of analgesics both during the hospital stay (99.52%) and at the time of discharge (86.01%). Opioid analgesics (4.73%) was used in the immediate postoperative period mainly to supplement the NSAIDs. Diclofenac (88.86%) was the most commonly prescribed analgesic to in-patients and either diclofenac (47.63) or a fixed dose combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol (32.46%) was the most commonly prescribed at the time of discharge. The administered dose of diclofenac was higher than the recommended dose. Utilization of analgesics during postoperative period may be rationalised by pain assessment charts and regular feedback to the precribers. Key Words: Analgesic utilization, post operative, abdominal surgery.