Background: Pre emptive analgesia following or before lumbar subarachnoid blockade can be instituted through several means. But use of diclofenac suppository is one of the easiest ways to administer in the parturient by the obstetrician or paramedical staff or assisting staff nurse along with the vaginal examination done postoperatively in this category of surgery.

Materials and Methods: We have studied a total of 100 patients, 50 patients in each group – Suppository group [Group I], Control group [Group II]. Quality of postoperative analgesia provided effects were studied.

Results: Group I [Suppository Group] was more efficient in postoperative analgesia of duration of 14.8 hours with a standard deviation of 1.1 while the control group showed a mean duration of 7 hrs. The mean dose of rescue analgesic was lower for group(I) in comparison to the group(II). Thereby substantiating qualitative analgesia provided by the diclofenac suppository. Mean VAS score was lower for [Group I] patients in comparison to the control [Group II] patients.

Conclusion: Diclofenac rectal suppository, being a cost effective and better technique in comparison to the parenteral formulations and opioids.

Keywords: Diclofenac Suppository, VAS – Visual Analogue Scale, Pre Emptive Analgesia, Standard Deviation.

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Dr Sanjay Sahadevan

Assistant Professor, Anaesthesiology and Critical Care

Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram