Effects of Pre-Operative Single Dose Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain Following Total Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Dose Finding Study

Abstract

Background & Aims: The multimodal analgesia provides superior pain relief and reduces opioid consumption and its side effects. Gabapentin has been used successfully in multi-modal analgesia in different doses. We designed a double-blind randomized control trial to find the minimal effective dose of gabapentin in multimodal analgesia for postoperative pain following total abdominal hysterectomy. Material & Methods: After informed consent, total of 87 patients were randomly assigned to A, B & C groups to receive gabapentin orally 300 mg, 600 mg, and 900 mg respectively one to two hours before surgery. Postoperatively pain was managed by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) using pethidine. Pain score, opioid consumption, and side effects of gabapentin were monitored. Rescue analgesia was given and monitored. Results: There was no statistically significant difference among the groups with respect to age, weight, height, pethidine consumption, and rescue analgesia. Mean pain scores were statistically insignificant at baseline, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Only at 4 hours, the highest pain score (mean) was found in group A, which is statistically significant. The side effects of gabapentin like nausea, vomiting, somnolence, and dizziness were also statistically insignificant. Conclusion: A single preoperative oral gabapentin 300 mg was found to be minimal effective dose in multimodal analgesic regimen for reducing post-operative pain and analgesic requirement following total abdominal hysterectomy.