Effect of Pregabalin Premedication on the Requirement of Anesthetic and Analgesic Drugs in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Randomized Comparison of Two Doses

BACKGROUND: Preoperative medication has a vital role in anesthesia. Pregabalin (PG) is a newer drug of gabapentinoid class and is six times more potent than gabapentin. Our study was designed to evaluate the effect of PG as premedication on the perioperative anesthetic requirement and analgesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on ninety patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I and II of age group 20–60 years, allocated to one of the three groups of thirty patients each. Group I received tablet diazepam 10 mg HS and 5 mg 1 h before surgery, Group II received capsule PG 75 mg HS and 150 mg 1 h before surgery, and Group III received capsule PG 75 mg HS and 300 mg 1 h before surgery. Patients were induced with injection fentanyl citrate, thiopentone sodium, and rocuronium bromide and maintained by 66% N(2)O + 33% O(2) gas mixture with sevoflurane and intermittent boluses of fentanyl. RESULTS: Perioperative consumption of thiopentone sodium was 5.59 ± 0.49 mg/kg in Group I, 4.29 ± 0.53 mg/kg in Group II, and 4.06 ± 0.59 mg/kg in Group III; fentanyl was 1.55 ± 0.42 μg/kg in Group I, 1.00 ± 0.00 μg/kg in Group II, and 1.05 ± 0.20 μg/kg in Group III; sevoflurane (%) was 1.20 ± 0.31 in Group I, 0.933 ± 0.25 in Group II, and 1.00 ± 0.00 in Group III. Perioperative requirement of thiopentone sodium, opioid, and inhalational agent was significantly less in Group II and III when compared with Group I. Maximum number of patients required postoperative rescue analgesia within 0–2 h of surgery in Group I, 2–4 h of surgery in Group II, and 6–8 h after surgery in Group III. Patients were more comfortable and asleep with a longer pain-free postoperative period in PG groups. CONCLUSION: PG premedication effectively reduced the consumption of all anesthetic agents during induction and maintenance of anesthesia as compared to diazepam. Patient's postoperative comfort and pain-free duration were also greater with PG premedication; more so with PG 300 mg as compared to PG 150 mg.