Gabapentinoids as a Part of Multi-modal Drug Regime for Pain Relief following Laproscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Study

BACKGROUND: Gabapentinoids have been used as preemptive analgesics for pain management following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Recently, multimodal analgesic techniques have been found superior to preemptive analgesia alone. AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare a single preoperative dose of pregabalin 150 mg and gabapentin 300 mg for pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a part of multimodal drug regime. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This randomized, single-blind study was conducted after Ethical Committee approval and written informed consent from the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive either 150 mg pregabalin (Group PG), or 300 mg gabapentin (Group GB) orally, 2 h before surgery. Standard anesthesia induction and maintenance were done. For intraoperative pain management, injection fentanyl 2 μg.kg(-1) intravenous (IV) along with injection voveran 75 mg IV and port site infiltration was used. Postoperatively, injection diclofenac 75 mg intramuscular TDS was continued. Severity of postoperative pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), postoperative fentanyl requirement and incidence, and severity of side effects were assessed. When VAS >40 mm or on patient's request, a Fentanyl bolus at an increment of 25–50 μg IV was given as rescue analgesia. RESULTS: Intraoperative fentanyl requirement was 135 ± 14 μg in Group PG and 140 ± 14 μg in Group GB (P = 0.21). Postoperative, fentanyl requirement was 123 ± 18 μg in Group PG and 131 ± 23 μg in Group GB (P = 0.17) There was no statistically significant difference in the VAS score for static and dynamic pain. Time to the first requirement of analgesic was 5.4 ± 1.1 h in Group PG and 4.6 ± 1.6 h in Group GB (P = 0.015). No side effects were observed. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a single preoperative dose of pregabalin (150 mg) or gabapentin (300 mg) are equally efficacious in providing pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a part of multimodal regime without any side effects.