JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Objectives: Acute postoperative pain is a challenge to all clinicians which has prompted many authors to study the effect of neuropathic pain killers like gabapentin and pregabalin as preemptive drugs for management of acute postoperative pain. The dose of preemptive oral pregabalin though studied by few authors has not yet been optimized. Hence the present study has been undertaken to arrive at optimal dose of preemptive oral pregabalin. Methods :This was a randomized double blind prospective study with 90 patients of American society of anesthesiology (ASA) Grade I and II aged between 35 to 60 years divided into 3 groups with Group I receiving placebo, Group II receiving 150mg oral pregabalin and Group III receiving 225mg oral Pregabalin. Statistical tools: Statistical analysis was done by using averages, means and percentages. Results: The time to visual analogue scale (VAS) > 3 was significantly increased in group III and group II than group I. The total dose of tramadol consumed in 24 hours duration was significantly less in group III and group II than group I. Sedation scores were more in patients of group III. Side effects like dizziness were more in Group III than in Group II. Patient satisfaction score was more in Group II than in Group III. Conclusion: Preemptive oral pregabalin 150mg is very effective in providing good postoperative analgesia with better patient satisfaction.

Keywords: Preemptive analgesia, Pregabalin, Spinal Anaesthesia