Celecoxib affecting inflammation following thoracic and abdominal surgery (Phase II study)

Patients are randomised to receive oral Celecoxib through the perioperative period, or no anti-inflammatory prescription. Specifically, patients in the Celecoxib group receive a loading dose of 400mg of oral Celecoxib capsules within 30 minutes prior to the induction of anaesthesia for surgery. Subsequently they receive 200mg of oral Celecoxib capsules at 12hourly intervals for a total of six dosing episodes (3 days). A ‘half-dose’ regimen will be adopted (200mg loading dose followed by 100mg every 12 hours for a total of six dosing events) in the following scenarios at registration: * Multiple cardiovascular risk factors: (any two of the following) 1. History of atherosclerotic disease; 2. Hypertension (treated with Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors, Angiotensin II receptor antagonists); 3. Cardiac failure (NYHA I). * Age older than 65 years as well as body weight less than 50kg. * Pre-operative Serum Creatinine of 100–149umol/L. Monitoring: Patients are seen daily on the wards by both treating clinicians and the study researchers following their surgery. Specifically, adverse events are enquired about, pain scores documented and standard post-operative blood tests acquired to monitor renal function. Pill compliance is documented. Patients are deemed compliant if they take at least 5/6 requested drug episodes. Additional to the standard post-operative bloods are post-operative blood tests that are taken at baseline (induction), and then 6hrs, 24hrs and 48hrs hours following surgery. These tests are for research purposes to measure the effectiveness of Celecoxib in limiting the prostaglandin rise (inflammatory response to surgery). A baseline urine sample and 48 hour urine same is also collected.