Gartner, R., Kroman, N., Callesen, T., & Kehlet, H. (2010). Multimodal prevention of pain, nausea and vomiting after breast cancer surgery. Minerva Anestesiologica, 76(10), 805–813.
To evaluate the effect of a multidrug, opiate-sparing regimen for prevention of postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting in patients after surgery for breast cancer
For 1–2 hours preoperatively, patients received a drug combination consisting of 1g oral paracetamol, 8 mg dexamethasone, 30 mg dextromethorphan, 400 mg celecoxib, and 1200 mg gabapentin. In addition, patients who were anxious received 0.125 mg triazolam on request. All patients received the same anesthesia regimen. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), immediately after surgery, symptoms were recorded at 15-minute intervals for 12 hours. Patients who had moderate to severe pain with mobilization received 0.1 mg/kg IV morphine and 1 g oral paracetamol every six hours and 200 mg oral celecoxib on the evening of the operation and in the morning and evening of the following day. Patients who needed pain medication after the first day received 600 mg oral ibuprofen every six hours and 1 g paracetamol every six hours. Rescue medication consisted of 15 g oral morphine.
Prospective trial
Four-point symptom rating scale, 0= no complaints and 3 = severe complaints
The preoperative drug combination used here appeared to be effective in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting and may have reduced postoperative pain at rest.
The specified combination of medications, administered preoperatively, appeared to reduce some postoperative symptoms in patients who had breast cancer surgery.