Comparison of the Efficacy of Intravenous Dexketoprofen and Paracetamol in the Treatment of Pain in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Sore Throat: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial

This is the randomized double blinded clinical trial to compare the efficacy of these two drugs in this clinical setting. A randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Emergency Department (ED) of Pamukkale University Medical Faculty Hospital Study personnel (emergency physicians and emergency service nurses) were trained before the study.

When intravenous drugs (Paracetamol, Dexketoprofen) was being recommended, an eligibility checklist was completed by the attending physician. Sore throat pain intensity scale was used to measure the severity of sore throat. According to the throat pain scale, patients with moderate-severe pain, at least 1 upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptom according URTI questionare, with objective findings of pharyngeal inflammation (Tonsillopharyngitis evaluation score ≥5), 60 mm or more according to the sore throat sensitivity scale (STSS), 50 mm and above according to difficulty swallowing scale (DSS), 33 mm and above according to the swollen throat scale (SwoTS) were included in the study and evaluated according to these scales.

First Group: 1000 mg of paracetamol ( parol 10mg/ml solution Mefar, Turkey) intravenous (IV) was given 100 patients, Second Group:

dexketoprofen 50 mg ( arveles ampoule -IE Ulagay-Menarini, Turkey) intravenous (IV) was given 100 patients which determined to be applied as a group.

Drug packs prepared in 150 ml serum physiology were numbered by an independent nurse, who not involved in the study Randomization was achieved by using computer software to generate random numbers. During the intervention, participants were monitored by an oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor, an automatic sphygmomanometer (blood pressure), and a rhythm monitor (heart rate and rhythms).