Material and Method: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in Thammasat University Hospital, Pathumthani, Thailand from October 2013 to May 2014. One hundred and twenty patients who underwent elective gynaecological surgery were randomized assigned to study and control groups. Study group (n = 60) received 40 mg parecoxib and control group (n = 60) received placebo at 1 hour before surgery. The postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours, frequency of meperidine consumption in 24 hours and side effects of parecoxib were recorded.

Results: VAS of study group after operation at 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours was significantly lower than control group. Meperidine consumption in placebo group was significantly higher than study group (27.50±19.36 and 48.75±28.15 mg, respectively; p<0.001). There was no side effect from parecoxib in this study.

Conclusion: Intravenous postoperative parecoxib injection could relief pain and reduced meperidine consumption. Parecoxib could be safely used in gynaecological surgery for postoperative pain relief.

Keywords: Parecoxib, Meperidine, Pain relief, Gynaecological surgery