Abstract:Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the post-operative analgesic efficacy and safety of oral tramadol used before craniotomy. Methods: The double -blind, randomized and placebo-controlled design was used; 175 neurosurgical patients, ASA physical I-II, were randomly distributed into three groups to receive orally placebo, tramadol 100mg, or tramadol 200mg, respectively. The drug was delivered as a double-blind manner 2h before operation. Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was used for the postoperative analgesia. The observation parameters included VAS scores, PCA demanded and delivered times, side effects with in 48h after operation. Results: Patients' VAS scores had not significant differences among three groups within 48h after operation, but the incidence of complaining postoperative pain was significantly more in the placebo group than the pre-emptive group within 4h after operation(P<0.05). The incidences of post-operative nausea' vomiting and dizziness were slightly higher in 200mg tramadol group. Conclusion: Oral tramadol of 100mg provided better pre-emptive analgesia, with less anesthetic consumption and less side effects.
