Scheduled acetaminophen with as-needed opioids compared to as-needed acetaminophen plus opioids for post-cesarean pain management

• The study compares scheduled to as-needed acetaminophen after cesarean delivery.
• The scheduled group received acetaminophen every 6 hours with as-needed opioids.
• The as-needed group took acetaminophen-opioid combination medications as-needed.
• Scheduled acetaminophen treatment decreases opioid use after cesarean delivery.
• Scheduled acetaminophen results in more consistent acetaminophen dosing.

BackgroundCombination opioid-acetaminophen drugs are commonly used for pain management after cesarean delivery. The aim of this study was to determine if scheduled acetaminophen decreases opioid use compared to as-needed combination acetaminophen-opioid administration.MethodsWe performed a retrospective chart review of women who underwent cesarean delivery before and after a clinical practice change. All patients received spinal anesthesia containing intrathecal morphine 200 μg and scheduled non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 48 h postoperatively. The first group (As-Needed Group, n=120) received combination oral opioid-acetaminophen analgesics as needed for breakthrough pain. The second group (Scheduled Group, n=120) received oral acetaminophen 650 mg every 6 h for 48 h postoperatively with oral oxycodone administered as needed for breakthrough pain. The primary outcome was opioid use, measured in intravenous morphine mg equivalents, in the first 48 h postoperatively.ResultsThe Scheduled Group used 9.1 ± 2.1 mg (95% CI 5.0–13.2) fewer intravenous morphine equivalents than the As-Needed Group (P <0.0001) over the study period. Fewer patients in the Scheduled Group exceeded acetaminophen 3 g daily compared to the As-Needed Group (P=0.008). Pain scores were similar between study groups.ConclusionsAfter cesarean delivery, scheduled acetaminophen results in decreased opioid use and more consistent acetaminophen intake compared to acetaminophen administered as needed via combination acetaminophen-opioid analgesics, without compromising analgesia.