P. Ravikumar Reddy, Rajashekar S. B, Karthik U. S
Post-operative pain management has been a constant challenge to many of the surgeons. There is a need for developing newer modalities which can provide good analgesia with fewer side effects. A randomized clinical trial was designed with a sample size of 60 patients, which were divided into two groups. These were randomized to receive intramuscular diclofenac sodium injection (Group A) or diclofenac diethylamine transdermal patch (Group B) after 1 hour from the time of spinal anaesthesia. Statistical analysis was done using UNPAIRED t-test and Mann-Whitney test. It was concluded that diclofenac diethylamine transdermal patch is effective in the management of post-operative pain after inguinal hernia mesh repair. Pain scores were significantly lower in diclofenac patch group. Meantime of rescue analgesia is longer in diclofenac patch group. Demand for rescue analgesia is lower in diclofenac transdermal patch group. However there is a need for broader studies to confirm the above results.