The effect of premedication with 300 mg Pregabalin on postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery

Aims and 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. 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. 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). 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.