Background: Pregabalin, an antiepileptic and chronic pain medication, has been used by various authors for preoperative analgesia. We have assessed the effect of pre-emptive administration of the drug to patients scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy.
Methods: Seventy-four ASA I and II patients were included in this prospective, double blind study. They were randomised to receive 75, 150, or 300 mg of pregabalin, or 7.5 mg of midazolam as a placebo, one hour before anaesthesia and surgery. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane or desflurane. Fentanyl was used for analgesia and rocuronium for muscle relaxation. Immediately after surgery, patients received morphine intravenously in 2 mg increments until the NRS score was below 3. This was then followed by PCA.
Results: Morphine consumption and pain scores were only significantly lower in the 300 mg pregabalin group, when compared to the placebo and other treatment groups; there were no differences between placebos and lower doses of pregabalin.
Conclusion: We conclude that pre-emptive administration of 300 mg pregabalin reduces postoperative pain and morphine consumption. Further studies on higher doses would appear to be justified.