Journal of Anesthesiology and Pain

Aims and background:  Nowadays, multimodal approach is used to control post-operative pain. Pregabalin has been shown to have analgesic effects on postoperative pain as a Gaba-Amino-Buteric (GABA) analogue. This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study has evaluated the beneficial effect of Pregabalin pretreatment on postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patints undergoing orthopedic elective surgery.

Materials and Methods: Sixty ASA 1-2 patients, scheduled for orthopedic elective surgery under spinal anesthesia, were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 received 300 mg Pregabalin one hour before the operation and Group 2 was given Placebo capsule. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) device, prepared with Sufentanil, was connected to both groups for postoperative analgesia. Postoperative pain scores according to visual analogue scale (VAS), opioid consumption, and side-effects like nausea were recorded for 12 hours after surgery. P value<0.05 was considered significant.

Findings: According to visual analogue scale (VAS), pain scores were significantly lower in Pregabalin group at post anesthesia care unit (PACU), 6 hours and 12 hours post-operatively(p<0.05). Also pethidine consumption was significantly less than the placebo group in Pregabalin group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Administering a single dose of 300 mg Pregabalin orally, and 1 hour before elective orthopedic  surgery under spinal anesthesia, significantly reduces postoperative pain and opioid consumption.