Assessing efficacy of intravenous acetaminophen for perioperative pain control for oocyte retrieval: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objective: To compare the effect of preoperative intravenous (IV) acetaminophen versus oral (PO) acetaminophen or placebo on postoperative pain scores and the time to discharge in women undergoing oocyte retrieval. Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Setting: Single academic fertility center. Patient(s): Women aged 18-43 years undergoing oocyte retrieval. Intervention(s): Randomization to preoperative 1,000 mg IV acetaminophen and PO placebo (group A), IV placebo and 1,000 mg PO acetaminophen (group B), or IV and PO placebo (group C) Main Outcome Measure(s): Difference in patient-reported postoperative visual analog scale pain scores from baseline and the time to discharge. Result(s): Of the 159 women who completed the study, there were no differences in the mean postoperative pain score differences or the time to discharge. Although not statistically significant, the mean postoperative opioid dose requirement in group A was lower than that in groups B and C (0.24 vs. 0.59 vs. 0.58 mg IV morphine equivalents, respectively) due to fewer women in group A requiring rescue pain medication (8% vs. 19% vs. 15%, respectively). Group A also reported less constipation when compared with groups B and C (19% vs. 33% vs. 40%, respectively). The rates of postoperative nausea were similar, and there were no differences in embryology or early pregnancy outcomes between the study groups. Conclusion(s): Preoperative IV acetaminophen for women undergoing oocyte retrieval did not reduce postoperative pain scores or shorten the time to discharge when compared with PO acetaminophen or placebo and, thus, cannot currently be recommended routinely in this patient population. (C) 2021 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Automated summary

The study compared the effects of preoperative IV acetaminophen versus PO acetaminophen or placebo on postoperative pain scores and discharge time in women undergoing oocyte retrieval. There were no significant differences in pain scores or discharge time among the groups. IV acetaminophen did not reduce postoperative pain or shorten discharge time compared to PO acetaminophen or placebo.