Effect of pre-emptive pregabalin on pain intensity and postoperative morphine consumption after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
Postoperative pain is the dominant complaint and the most common cause of delayed discharge after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of preoperative administration of pregabalin to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption.


METHODS
Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II adult patients with symptomatic gallstone disease scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups: group I patients (n = 25) were given 600 mg pregabalin per os divided in two doses, the night before surgery and 1 h preoperatively, respectively, while group II patients (n = 25) received a matching to pregabalin placebo at the same scheme. Postoperative pain, morphine consumption, and complications were compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
Postoperative pain (static and dynamic assessment) was significantly less at 0, 1, 8, 16, and 24 h (p < 0.001) after the procedure for group I (pregabalin) compared with the placebo group. Postoperative patient-controlled morphine consumption during hospital stay was also significantly less in the pregabalin group compared with the placebo group. Side-effects were similar in both groups expect for dizziness, which was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the pregabalin group.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of 600 mg pregabalin per os, divided in two preoperative doses, significantly reduces postoperative pain as well as opioid consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, at the cost of increased incidence of dizziness.
Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital of Larissa, Biopolis, Larissa 411 10, Greece. heidisarak@gmail.com
Chamaidi
C
Sarakatsianou
Elena
E
Theodorou
Stavroula
S
Georgopoulou
Georgia
G
Stamatiou
George
G
Tzovaras
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000069583:Pregabalin; D011292:Premedication; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000069583:Pregabalin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D009020:Morphine