Can gabapentin help reduce postoperative pain in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair? A prospective, randomized, double-blind study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of low-dose gabapentin on postoperative pain management in patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.


METHODS
This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study included 46 patients. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the drug administered 2 hours before surgery, either 300 mg of gabapentin or placebo. The primary outcome measure was the visual analog scale (VAS) score at 2, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The secondary outcome measures were fentanyl consumption and side effects during the first 2 hours in the postanesthesia care unit and then at 6 and 24 hours postoperatively. The patients were evaluated for side effects including nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, dizziness, drowsiness, voiding difficulty, and pruritus.


RESULTS
The VAS scores at 2, 6, and 12 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in the gabapentin group than in the placebo group (P = .023, P = .019, and P = .022, respectively). The consumption of fentanyl, over a period of 24 hours, was not different in the comparisons between the groups (P = .686). The incidence of side effects was similar in the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A single dose of 300 mg of gabapentin reduced the VAS score during the first 24 hours postoperatively in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, without significant side effects when compared with placebo. However, the fentanyl consumption did not differ between the gabapentin and placebo groups.


METHODS
Level I, randomized controlled trial.
Bang
Si Ra
SR
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Yu
Su Kyung
SK
Kim
Tae Hyeong
TH
D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D009294:Narcotics; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D005283:Fentanyl