Evaluation of the effect of perioperative rofecoxib treatment on pain control and clinical outcomes in patients recovering from gynecologic abdominal surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Background And Objectives: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, the efficacy and safety of rofecoxib 50 mg was evaluated in patients undergoing major abdominal gynecologic surgery.

Methods: Patients were randomized to receive rofecoxib 50 mg (n = 81) or placebo (n = 83) approximately 2 hours before total abdominal hysterectomy or myomectomy and once daily over the ensuing 4 days. Clinical measurements included average daily opioid use over the 5-day period (primary endpoint), pain intensity on movement, and opioid-related side effects.

Etoricoxib provides analgesic efficacy to patients after knee or hip replacement surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Unlabelled: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study we assessed the analgesic effect of etoricoxib (a new cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) in patients having had knee or hip replacement surgery. A total of 228 patients with moderate or severe pain were randomly allocated within 72 h after surgery to receive etoricoxib 120 mg, controlled-release naproxen sodium 1100 mg, or placebo (1:1:1) on day 1 followed by etoricoxib and placebo (1:2) on days 2 to 7. Patients reported pain scores, rescue (opioid-combination) medication use, and the response to study drug.

Sleep-disordered breathing associated with long-term opioid therapy.

Three patients are described who illustrate distinctive patterns of sleep-disordered breathing that we have observed in patients who are receiving long-term, sustained-release opioid medications. Polysomnography shows respiratory disturbances occur predominantly during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and are characterized by ataxic breathing, central apneas, sustained hypoxemia, and unusually prolonged obstructive "hypopneas" secondary to delayed arousal responses. In contrast to what is usually observed in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), oxygen desaturation is more severe and respiratory disturbances are longer during NREM sleep compared to rapid eye movement sleep.

Dose-response pharmacology of intrathecal morphine in human volunteers.

Background: Intrathecal morphine sulfate (ITMS) administration was introduced into clinical practice in 1979. Inadequate information exists delineating ITMS respiratory effects in the dosage range most frequently employed today. This study evaluated 0.