EFFECTIVENESS OF MULTIMODAL ANALGESIA VERSUS CONVENTIONAL OPIOID-BASED REGIMENS IN POSTOPERATIVE PAIN CONTROL: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL STUDY

Abstract

Postoperative pain is a major barrier to early recovery, and while conventional opioid-based regimens are effective, they are commonly associated with adverse effects such as nausea– vomiting, sedation, ileus, pruritus, and respiratory depression. This randomized clinical study compared multimodal analgesia (scheduled non-opioid analgesics with complementary mechanisms, with opioid rescue as needed) versus a conventional opioid-centered regimen in adult patients undergoing elective surgery under standardized anesthesia. Pain intensity (VAS/NRS) was assessed at predefined intervals over the first 24 hours, and secondary outcomes included total opioid consumption (morphine milligram equivalents), time to first rescue analgesia, opioidrelated side effects (including PONV and sedation), early ambulation, and patient satisfaction. The multimodal group demonstrated significantly lower pain scores across early and late postoperative periods, reduced cumulative opioid requirement, and a longer time to first rescue dose compared with the conventional regimen, alongside a lower incidence of opioid-related adverse effects— particularly PONV and sedation—and higher patient satisfaction, without an observed increase in clinically meaningful short-term complications. Overall, multimodal analgesia provided superior pain control with opioid- sparing and improved tolerability, supporting its routine use to enhance postoperative recovery.