[The effectiveness of perioperative intravenous flurbiprofen in minor ear, neck and nose surgery].

To evaluate the effect of perioperative intravenous administration of flurbiprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on the postoperative pain after minor ear, neck and nose surgery, eighty patients were randomly allocated into three groups. Control group of 40 patients, received a placebo. The second group (n = 20) received 1 mg.kg-1 flurbiprofen i.v. at the end of surgery, and the third group (n = 20) received the same dose of flurbiprofen before the start of surgery. The ratio of the patients and the time for requirement of analgesics after the operation and the serum concentration of flurbiprofen were assessed. The ratio of the patients who required analgesics was higher in control group (0.45, 0.35 and 0.10 in each group). The time without analgesics was longer in pre-treatment group. The serum concentration of flurbiprofen decreased in pre-treatment group at the end of surgery, but the effectiveness of flurbiprofen on postoperative pain might be more apparent in pre-treatment group. Administration of flurbiprofen before the start of surgery is more effective for peri-operative analgesia in minor ear, neck and nose surgery.