Bharti, N., Bala, I., Narayan, V., & Singh, G. (2013). Effect of gabapentin pretreatment on propofol consumption, hemodynamic variables, and postoperative pain relief in breast cancer surgery. Acta Anaesthesiologica Taiwanica, 51, 10–13.
To evaluate the effects of preoperative gabapentin on anesthesia requirements and postoperative pain
Patients were randomized to receive either 600 mg gabapentin or placebo two hours prior to surgery for breast cancer. Patients were followed for 24 hours after surgery. Postoperative analgesia was provided with intramuscular diclofenac sodium 1.5 mg every eight hours and IV morphine 3 mg on demand or when the pain score was 4 or higher.
Propofol requirements for induction (p = .02) and maintenance of anesthesia (p = .009) was significantly lower in the gabapentin group. Patients in the gabapentin group had significantly lower pain scores up to two hours postoperatively (p < .001). More patients in the control group required rescue analgesics (p = .03). There were no significant differences between groups in duration of surgery or intraoperative analgesics.
Preoperative gabapentin may reduce anesthesia dose requirements and short-term postoperative pain.
Preoperative gabapentin may reduce anesthesia dose needs and postoperative pain.