Anaesthetic Department, North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke.
A randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted to compare the analgesic efficacy of piroxicam as Feldene "Melt' with diclofenac suppositories following day case wisdom tooth extraction. Piroxicam was found to be equivalent to diclofenac in speed of onset and efficacy when given 1 h prior to surgery with no significant adverse effects. It is therefore possible to confer the benefits of postoperative analgesia from a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug whilst avoiding the inconvenience of the rectal route of administration.