title: The anxiolytic effect of pregabalin in outpatients undergoing minor orthopaedic surgery.
abstract: Preoperative anxiety can increase postoperative pain and is therefore important to avoid. Different approaches have already been tested for preoperative anxiolysis. Gabapentinoids might be a useful alternative to benzodiazepines. Pregabalin is used for treating generalized anxiety disorders and shows a favourable pharmacokinetic profile after oral administration; however, its anxiolytic effect preoperatively in healthy outpatients is still unclear. In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial the anxiolytic effect of pregabalin in 40 outpatients undergoing standardised general anaesthesia and postoperative pain therapy for minor orthopaedic surgery was analysed. Patients received preoperatively either 300 mg pregabalin or placebo orally. The primary outcome was anxiety before anaesthesia induction, the secondary outcome the postoperative pain, both assessed using a visual analogue scale from 0 to 100. Without any side effects pregabalin reduced preoperative anxiety compared with the control group (23 ± 10 vs. 38 ± 17; p = 0.003). Pain scores did not differ between groups; however, need of piritramide in the postanaesthesia care unit was reduced to half by pregabalin compared with the control group. A single preoperative dose of 300 mg pregabalin reduces anxiety in patients undergoing minor orthopaedic surgery without any side effects like dizziness or persisting sedation resulting in a prolonged stay in the postanaesthesia care unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, General Intensive Care and Pain Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. christopher.gonano@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonano
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Latzke
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabeti-Aschraf
authors.forename: Stephan C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kettner
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiari
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gustorff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013511:Minor Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010892:Pirinitramide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010892:Pirinitramide; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid