Preemptive multimodal analgesia for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Gynecologic oncology laparotomy leads to severe postoperative pain. We aimed to evaluate the effects of preemptive multimodal analgesic regimen on postoperative opioid consumption for patients undergoing gynecologic oncology laparotomy.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 80 female patients scheduled for gynecologic oncology laparotomy were randomized to receive preemptive multimodal analgesia consisted of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, acetaminophen and intravenous morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (Study group) or conventional analgesia with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and morphine PCA (Control group). The primary outcome was morphine consumption in the first 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain scores, nausea, vomiting, time to ambulation and flatus, length of hospital stay, satisfaction score, the 40-item Quality of Recovery score (QoR-40) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) scale.

Results: Morphine consumption in the first 24 h was 6 (3-9.8) mg in the Study group and 7 (3.5-12.5) mg in the Control group ( = 0.222). The Study group showed lower morphine consumption up to 6 h, lower pain scores up to 48 h, and earlier time to ambulation and flatus. The global QoR-40 score at 48 h [182 (173-195) vs. 173.5 (154-185.5),  = 0.024], subdimension scores of physical dependence at 24 h, physical comfort and pain at 48 h were significantly improved in the Study group.

Conclusion: Preemptive multimodal analgesia was not superior to conventional analgesia in reducing 24 h morphine consumption; however, it showed a significantly improved pain control and early quality of recovery thus can be recommended for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.