Systematic Review Finds COX-2 Inhibitors Reduce Acute Pain and May Improve Chronic Pain Post-Surgery

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, published in Anesthesiology, concluded that perioperative selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors likely provide a clinically meaningful reduction in acute pain-related interference with daily function after surgery. The study, which screened over 9,000 citations and included 38 trials with 5,424 participants, also suggested that these inhibitors may improve chronic pain and the quality of recovery. No significant differences were observed in adverse events such as acute renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, myocardial infarction, stroke, or death.