The effect of continuous intravenous indomethacin infusion on bleeding time and postoperative pain in patients undergoing emergency surgery of the lower extremities

Fifty-four orthopaedic patients were given either indomethacin (25-50 mg bolus plus infusion, 5-7.5 mg h-1) or only lactated Ringer solution intravenously over 20 h in a randomized and double-blind fashion. The study was started at the casualty department as soon as possible after the decision to operate was made. The patients were given a spinal block with bupivacaine, and the evaluation included postoperative analgesia and IVY bleeding times. Indomethacin plasma concentrations were measured and found to be at a therapeutic level throughout the study. The oxycodone dose (mean +/- s.d.) during the postoperative observation was lower in the indomethacin group (17.4 +/- 13.7 mg) than in the control group (25.6 +/- 15.6 mg) (P = 0.05). Fewer patients in the indomethacin group needed oxycodone more than once during the follow-up period (P less than 0.001). The mean IVY bleeding time was prolonged in the indomethacin group after 20 h of infusion (P less than 0.05). No abnormal bleeding was observed immediately postoperatively. However, at the end of the infusion there were more patients who bled through their bandages and casts in the indomethacin group (4/28 vs. 1/26).