Prescription Pattern of Analgesics for Post Caesarean Section Pain in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, South East, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Post caesarean section pain has been associated with physical, psychological and social consequences which can negatively impact the wellbeing of the patient including postpartum depression and the development of chronic pain syndrome if not treated. Objective: To evaluate the prescribing pattern of analgesics for post-cesarean section pain relief. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of caesarean sections that was carried out at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria from January 2016 to December 2017. The case notes including anaesthesia and treatment charts of 529 women who had caesarean sections within the period under review were obtained from the medical records department. Demographic data, type and mode of analgesic given, anaesthesia techniques, indication for caesarean section and length of stay in the hospital were obtained. The data were analyzed using the statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results: A total of 529 participants had a caesarean section. Pentazocine was the most prescribed analgesic either alone or with other analgesics accounting for a total of 74.1%. Intramuscular tramadol alone accounted for 24.8% while 1.1% of the participants received epidural with catheter in-situ beyond the surgery duration aimed at achieving extended analgesia. Spinal anaesthesia was the highest technique of anaesthesia. The obstetrician prescribed all the analgesics provided post-operatively. Conclusion: We conclude that most of the participants received single and weak analgesics contrary to the WHO multi-modal analgesia recommendation for acute pain such as post caesarean section pain.