COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF INTRAVENOUS PARACETAMOLAND DICLOFENAC IN MANAGING POSTOPERATIVE PAIN FOLLOWING GENERAL ANESTHESIA

Background: Effective postoperative pain management is crucial for enhancing patient recovery and satisfaction. Intravenous (IV) paracetamol and diclofenac are commonly used analgesics, but their relative efficacy and safety for pain relief after general anesthesia require further evaluation. Objective: To compare the analgesic efficacy of injection of Paracetamol & injection Diclofenac for pain relief after general anesthetics. Methods: This prospective, comparative study included patients undergoing elective surgeries under general anesthesia. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: Group Areceived IVparacetamol, and Group B received IVdiclofenac postoperatively. Pain was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 1, 2, 8, and 24 hours after surgery. Secondary outcomes, including the requirement for rescue analgesics and the incidence of adverse effects, were also recorded. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant pain reduction postoperatively, with Group B (IVdiclofenac) showing slightly better VAS scores at 4 and 8 hours compared to Group A(IVparacetamol) (p < 0.05). However, the need for rescue analgesics was comparable in both groups. Adverse effects such as nausea and gastritis were more frequently reported in Group B, while Group A had a better safety profile. Conclusion: IV diclofenac offers superior short-term pain relief compared to IV paracetamol but is associated with a higher incidence of adverse effects. IV paracetamol may be preferred for patients at risk of NSAID-related complications. Tailoring analgesic choice based on patient profiles is essential for optimal postoperative pain management.