Preoperative pregabalin prolongs duration of spinal anesthesia and reduces early postoperative pain: A double-blind, randomized clinical CONSORT study.
BACKGROUND
The administration of oral pregabalin preoperatively has been reported to reduce acute postoperative pain. However, no clinical study to date has yet fully investigated whether or not pregabalin premedication affects sensory and motor blocks using spinal anesthesia and its effect upon early postoperative pain management. This prospective, randomized, and double-blind clinical study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a single dose of pregabalin in terms of spinal blockade duration and its potential opioid-sparing effect during the first 24 hours subsequent to urogenital surgery.


METHODS
Forty-four patients scheduled for urogenital surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to 2 groups: group C (no premedication; orally administered placebo 2 hours before surgery) and group P (orally administered 150 mg pregabalin 2 hours before surgery).


RESULTS
The duration of sensory and motor blockade was significantly prolonged in group P patients when compared with that in group C patients, and the pain scores at postoperative 6 and 24 hours were significantly lower in group P patients. Requests for analgesics during the first postoperative 24 hours were lower among group P patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Premedication with a single dose of 150 mg pregabalin before surgery promoted the efficacy of intrathecal bupivacaine and improved postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing urogenital surgery under spinal anesthesia.
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
MiHye
M
Park
Hyerim
H
Lee
Younghoon
Y
Jeon
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures
D000700:Analgesics; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000069583:Pregabalin; D002045:Bupivacaine