title: The effect of gabapentin on reducing pain after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in patients with morbid obesity: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (LGBP) is a major problem. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant drug that can be effective in postoperative pain control.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effect of preoperative administration of gabapentin on reducing pain after LGBP in patients with morbid obesity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized clinical trial was performed in Hazrat Rasoul Akram Medical Center in Tehran. A total of 60 patients undergoing LGBP were randomly allocated into two groups; one group received 100 mg of oral gabapentin and the other group received placebo. Pain was evaluated at recovery time, and at the first, second, fourth and sixth hour of surgery by visual analog scale. The number and dose of opioid use after surgery and incidence of postoperative complications, such as nausea and vomiting, agitation, and headache, were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pain score in the group receiving gabapentin was significantly lower than the placebo group (P < 0.001). Indications and dose of opioid consumption between the two groups were not statistically significant. Incidence of nausea/vomiting (P = 0.028) as well as agitation (P = 0.037) was significantly lower in the gabapentin group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of gabapentin before surgery can reduce pain after LGBP. Furthermore, it is not accompanied by significant short-term adverse effects.
authors: Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Valiollah
authors: V
authors: Hassani
authors: Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Abdolreza
authors: A
authors: Pazouki
authors: Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Nasim
authors: N
authors: Nikoubakht
authors: Minimally Invasive Techniques Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran ; Endometriosis Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Pars Advanced Medical Practice Research Center, Pars Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Shahla
authors: S
authors: Chaichian
authors: Center for Academic and Health Policy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Azadeh
authors: A
authors: Sayarifard
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Shakib Khankandi
keywords: Gabapentin; Morbid Obesity; Postoperative Pain; laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery