Efficacy of transdermal nitroglycerin combined with etodolac for the treatment of chronic post-thoracotomy pain: An open-label prospective clinical trial

Intensity of pain in patients with chronic post-thoracotomy pain treated with etodolac alone (Etodolac) and with NTG patch and etodolac (NTG). No clinical improvement was evident after 2 weeks of treatment with etodolac alone (400 mg every 8 hr). After 2 weeks of adjunctive treatment with NTG patch (5 mg per day), significant improvement was observed, from basal VAS 66.7±11 to VAS 42.1±5. ^∗P<0.05.

Intensity of breakthrough pain in patients with chronic post-thoracotomy pain treated with etodolac alone (Etodolac) and with NTG patch and etodolac. No clinical improvement occurred after 2 weeks of treatment with etodolac alone (400 mg every 8 hr). After 2 weeks of adjunctive treatment with NTG patch (5 mg per day), the intensity of breakthrough attacks significantly decreased from severe pain (VAS 84.7±8) to moderate pain (VAS 60.5±3). ^∗P<0.05.

Effect of etodolac alone (Etodolac) and NTG/etodolac (NTG) on sleep efficiency (% sleep hr /time in bed). No clinical improvement occurred after 2 weeks of treatment with etodolac alone. After 2 weeks of adjunctive treatment with NTG patch, sleep efficiency improved from a mean of 58.2±12% to 82.6±4%. ^∗P<0.05.