Randomised Controlled Trial of Cox-2 Selective versus Non-selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Postoperative Analgesia in Caesarean Sections

Caesarean Section is a procedure commonly performed in Australia and worldwide. In Western Australia 34% of deliveries are performed by caesarean section. The procedure is performed under neuraxial anaesthesia for 98% of procedures in Western Australia. Pain following caesarean section is common with majority of patients requiring opiate analgesia. Despite being a procedure that is performed commonly there is a wide variety of both intraoperative and postoperative analgesia regimes. There has been conflicting evidence of the value of giving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on reducing post-operative analgesia requirements and whether non-selective NSAIDs are more effective than selective NSAIDs. The study will randomise the patient to receive either a non-selective or selective NSAID and assess whether there is any difference in pain scores. The null hypothesis is that there will be no difference in pain scores in the treatment groups.