Rectal analgesia for the relief of perineal pain after childbirth: a randomised controlled trial of diclofenac suppositories

• Published in: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 2004-10, Vol.111 (10), p.1059-1064
• Main Authors: Dodd, Jodie M., Hedayati, Hedyeh, Pearce, Elizabeth, Hotham, Neil, Crowther, Caroline A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Rectal; Adult; Analgesics; Analgesics - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Births; Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation; Diclofenac - administration & dosage; Double-Blind Method; Drug therapy; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Obstetrics; Pain; Pain - prevention & control; Perineum; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders - prevention & control; Suppositories
• ISSN: 1470-0328; 1471-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2004.00156.x

Objective  To evaluate rectal diclofenac in the relief of perineal pain after trauma during childbirth. Design  A randomised, double‐blind trial. Setting  Delivery Suite, Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia. Population  Women with a second‐degree (or greater) perineal tear or episiotomy. Methods  Women were randomly allocated to either diclofenac or placebo suppositories (Anusol), using a computer‐generated randomisation schedule with stratification for parity and mode of birth. Treatment packs contained two × 100 mg diclofenac or two placebo suppositories, the first being inserted when suturing was complete, and the second 12–24 hours after birth. Women were asked to complete questionnaires at 24 and 48 hours after birth relating to their degree of perineal pain using the validated Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. Main outcome measures  Pain scores at 24 and 48 hours after birth. Results  A total of 133 women were recruited, with 67 randomised to diclofenac suppositories and 66 to placebo. Women in the diclofenac group were significantly less likely to experience pain at 24 hours while walking (RR 0.8; 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0), sitting (RR 0.8; 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0), passing urine (RR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4 to 1.0) and on opening their bowels (RR 0.6; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9) compared with those women who received placebo. These differences were not sustained 48 hours after birth. Conclusions  The use of rectal non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug suppositories is a simple, effective and safe method of reducing the pain experienced by women following perineal trauma within the first 24 hours after childbirth.