Assessing the Efficacy of Intravenous Acetaminophen Versus the Oral Formulation for Perioperative Pain Treatment

Intravenous acetaminophen has rapid onset and potent analgesic properties. Recent studies have shown several advantages of using intravenous acetaminophen perioperatively. However, due to its relatively high cost and limited clinical data concerning its efficacy compared with other agents, physicians are hesitant to use intravenous acetaminophen in the perioperative period.

174 adult patients from the orthopedic surgeons undergoing total knee replacement with spinal anesthesia will be enrolled. The study will be double blind, randomized; placebo controlled comparing oral and IV acetaminophen to each other and a control (placebo). At the time patients arrive in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), Group 1 will receive IV 1 gram acetaminophen, and PO placebo; Group 2 will receive PO 1 gram acetaminophen and IV placebo; Group 3 will receive IV placebo and PO placebo.

The primary outcome that will be assessed is pain scores, which will be recorded by using the numeric rating scale 1-10 every 15 minutes. Secondary outcomes include time to rescue analgesia (measured in minutes), time to PACU discharge (measured in minutes), and the total amount of hydromorphone (PO or IV) consumed within 6 hours postoperatively for adequate analgesia (total measured in milligrams) will be collected.

The difference in pain scores will be assessed by a chi-square test. A multivariable regression model will be performed with the clinical and statistically significant variables to remove confounding.