title: Effect of pretreatment with gabapentin on withdrawal movement associated with intravenous rocuronium injection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major disadvantage of rocuronium is the withdrawal movement associated with its injection. The analgesic effect of perioperative gabapentin has been evaluated. We investigated the effects of gabapentin on the withdrawal movement induced by rocuronium injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  86 ASA physical status I or II patients, aged 18-69 years who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery with general anesthesia were enrolled. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either gabapentin 600 mg or placebo 2 hours prior to surgery. The patient's response to rocuronium injection was graded using a 4-point scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of withdrawal movement after rocuronium administration was significantly lower in the gabapentin group (55.0% in the control group vs 28.6% in the gabapentin group). The number of patients with generalized response indicating severe pain, was 9 (22.5%) in the control group and 3 (7.1%) in the gabapentin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with a single oral dose of gabapentin 600 mg reduced the incidence and severity of withdrawal movement after rocuronium administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hee Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Sam Soon
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jae Do
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Hong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ko