Stessel B, et al. - In this double-blind randomised controlled trial conducted at a single centre, researchers determined whether a combination of metamizole and paracetamol is noninferior to a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol in treating pain at home after painful day case surgery. Participants were 200 patients undergoing elective ambulatory haemorrhoid surgery, arthroscopic shoulder or knee surgery, or inguinal hernia repair. Either metamizole and paracetamol (n = 100) or ibuprofen and paracetamol (n = 100) were administered orally for four days to patients, using random allocation. Findings demonstrated equal effectiveness of paracetamol/metamizole and paracetamol/ibuprofen in the treatment of acute postoperative pain at home after ambulatory surgery. Patient satisfaction levels were also comparable.