Effect of meloxicam on postoperative pain after abdominal hysterectomy

We studied 36 patients, allocated randomly to receive meloxicam 15 mg recta lly (n = 18) or placebo suppository (n = 18) before total abdominal hystere ctomy in a double-blind study. Visual analogue scores for pain at rest (P < 0.005), on movement (P < 0.05) and on coughing (P < 0.05) were significant ly decreased in the meloxicam group during the first 24 h after surgery. Me an 24-h PCA morphine requirements were 33.2 (SD 16.9) mg and 38.2 (20.8) mg in the meloxicam and placebo groups, respectively (ns). There was no diffe rence in the incidence of nausea, vomiting or sedation between groups.