Pregabalin for the treatment of postsurgical pain.
BACKGROUND
Multimodal postoperative pain management targeted at diminishing harmful outcomes should include pregabalin in cases that need opioid reduction and when the risk of developing chronic neuropathic postsurgical pain is present. Gabapentanoids have grown in importance due to their opioid-sparing effects. They may also contribute to the prevention of chronic postsurgical pain.


METHODS
We reviewed the literature regarding the use of gabapentanoids and their role in treatment modalities in acute postsurgical pain. Dosing, therapeutic efficacy, side effects, and their role within a multimodal regimen are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on their ability to provide an opioid-sparing effect, as well as on their potential for inhibiting chronic neuropathic pain. A Pubmed search of pregabalin, gabapentin, acute pain, multimodal analgesia, chronic postsurgical pain, and neuropathic pain between 2000 and 2010 was done. Relevant articles - including randomized controlled trials, retrospective trials, case series, case reports, and review articles - were filtered to include those that relate to postsurgical pain.


RESULTS
Readers will gain an increased appreciation of the role of pregabalin in postsurgical pain in patients at risk of developing chronic pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregabalin is a safe and effective medication that may decrease perioperative opioid use in patients with more acute neuropathic pain than acute inflammatory pain. When surgery involves more neuropathic-type acute pain there is growing evidence that pregabalin may decrease the incidence of chronic pain.
Stony Brook University - Anesthesiology, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. brian.durkin@stonybrook.edu
Brian
B
Durkin
Christopher
C
Page
Peter
P
Glass
D000208:Acute Disease; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid