Clinical Research Directory

Intraperitoneal Hydrocortisone for Postoperative Pain and CRP Following Caesarean Section

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal hydrocortisone 100 mg administration in reducing postoperative pain and inflammatory response in patients undergoing elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia combined with bilateral Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) block. Postoperative pain following Caesarean section stems from both visceral and somatic surgical trauma. While TAP block effectively attenuates somatic wound pain, visceral pain mediated by peritoneal irritation remains a significant component of acute postoperative discomfort. Intraperitoneal instillation of local corticosteroids like hydrocortisone may modulate local inflammatory cascades, thereby reducing peritoneal nociceptor sensitization. This double-blind randomized controlled trial involved 50 term pregnant women scheduled for elective Caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia with bilateral TAP block. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 100 mg hydrocortisone in 100 mL NaCl 0.9% or 100 mL NaCl 0.9% placebo instilled into the peritoneal cavity prior to abdominal closure. Postoperative pain intensity (measured via Visual Analog Scale \[VAS\] at 6, 12, and 24 hours) and serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels at 24 hours postoperatively were compared between the two groups.