Effectiveness of preemptive Gabapentin on postoperative pain after vaginal hysterectomy

Kim, Hyun Mi; Kim, Eun Ok; Song, Ji Eun; Park, Sung Ho; Jun, Hyun Ah; Kim, Hongbae; Lee, Keun Young

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Gabapentin is a new generation anticonvulsant drug. Preemptive gabapentin may produce analgesic effect in postoperative patient and have antiemetic effect. The aim of the present study was to investigate the opioid-sparing and analgesic effect of preemptive gabapentin on postoperative pain in patient undergoing vaginal hysterectomy.
METHODS
In a randomized, double-blind, controlled study, 40 patients scheduled for an elective vaginal total hysterectomy were investigated/-. The patients were randomized to receive either oral gabapentin 1200mg (GABA group 2, n=17) or 900mg (GABA group 1, n=13) with premedication the night before and again 2hours before surgery. The other group (control group, n=10) had only routine premedication without gabapentin. All patients received patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Postoperatively, pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10) at time 1, 2, 4, 8, and 20 hours. Cumulative PCA consumption and opioid-related adverse events (nausea, vomiting, dizziness) was recorded.
RESULTS
There was significant decrease of fentanly consumption in gabapentin group (GABA 2 group : 57.51+/-8.95 mg, GABA 1 group : 52.21+/-5.78 mg) compared to control group (50.63+/-2.55 mg)(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in side-effect (nausea, vomiting, dizziness) were observed between case and control group.
CONCLUSIONS
Preemptive gabapentin has a good analgesic effect and reduce postoperative fentanyl consumption on postoperative pain after vaginal hysterectomy. Gabapentin effectively rescue analgesic requirement in post-operative patients with vaginal total hysterectomy.