title: Effects of preoperative gabapentin on postoperative pain after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of preoperative gabapentin on tramadol consumption using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and postoperative pain was assessed in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized trial, 51 patients undergoing  RRP were randomized into two groups: the gabapentin group received 900 mg gabapentin orally 2 h before surgery; the control group did not receive gabapentin. Postoperative analgesia was provided by tramadol PCA. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale for 24 h, postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean cumulative tramadol consumption at 24 h was comparable in the two groups. Pain scores at 45 min, 60 min and 2 h postoperatively, and the number of patients who required rescue analgesia, were significantly lower in the gabapentin group than in the control group. Side-effects were similar  in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative administration of 900 mg gabapentin did not decrease tramadol consumption, but was associated with lower pain scores in the early postoperative phase and a reduced need for rescue analgesia, compared with controls, in patients undergoing RRP.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey. mnurideniz@hotmail.com
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: Deniz
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Sertoz
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Erhan
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Ugur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011468:Prostatectomy; D014147:Tramadol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D009294:Narcotics; D014147:Tramadol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin