Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the perioperative period

NSAIDs are highly effective analgesics. Multimodal regimens for analgesia have been emphasised recently to limit the use of opioids, after controversies over their potentially harmful effects. Despite being an essential component of multimodal analgesia, the prescription use of NSAIDs is often met with hesitation. Although caution is advisable in the perioperative period, completely avoiding NSAIDs based on potential risks is unwarranted. The prescription of NSAIDs should be guided by careful consideration of known risks, which can be minimised by selecting the most appropriate NSAID, at a specific dose, over a specified timeframe, together with an adequate consent process.