Perioperative administration of pregabalin for pain after robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy: a randomized clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Perioperative administration of pregabalin, which is effective for neuropathic pain, might reduce early postoperative and chronic pain. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (Clinical Trials.gov ID NCT00905580) was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for reducing both acute postoperative pain and the development of chronic pain in patients after robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy.


METHODS
Ninety-nine patients were randomly assigned to groups that received pregabalin 150 mg or placebo 1 h before surgery, with the dose repeated after 12 h. Assessments of pain and side effects were performed 48 h postoperatively. The incidences of chronic pain and hypoesthesia in the anterior chest were recorded 3 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Ninety-four patients completed the study. Verbal numerical rating scale scores for pain and the need for additional analgesics were lower in the pregabalin group (n = 47) than the placebo group (n = 47) during 48 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). However, incidences of sedation and dizziness were higher in the pregabalin group (P < 0.05). There were no differences between the groups in the incidences of chronic pain and chest hypoesthesia at 3 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Perioperative administration of pregabalin (150 mg twice per day) was effective in reducing early postoperative pain but not chronic pain in patients undergoing robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy. Caution should be taken regarding dizziness and sedation.
Kim
So Yeon
SY
Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 250 Seongsan-no, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
Jeong
Jong Ju
JJ
Chung
Woong Youn
WY
Kim
Hyun Joo
HJ
Nam
Kee-Hyun
KH
Shim
Yon Hee
YH
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019990:Perioperative Care; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069583:Pregabalin; D012371:Robotics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000700:Analgesics; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid