Effect of gabapentin on pain after cardiac surgery: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

This study evaluated whether perioperative administration of gabapentin in cardiac surgery patients could reduce postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative sleep or perceived quality of recovery. This randomised controlled trial assigned 60 patients undergoing cardiac surgery to receive 1200 mg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia and intensive care 2010-05, Vol.38 (3), p.445-451
Main Authors: RAPCHUK, I. L, O'CONNELL, L, LIESSMANN, C. D, CORNELISSEN, H. R, FRASER, J. F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Amines - therapeutic use
Analgesics - therapeutic use
Anesthesia
Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiac Surgical Procedures
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Care and treatment
Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - therapeutic use
Dosage and administration
Double-Blind Method
Female
Gabapentin
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use
Heart
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pain
Pain, Postoperative
Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy
Placebo effect
Placebos - therapeutic use
Surgery
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Summary:This study evaluated whether perioperative administration of gabapentin in cardiac surgery patients could reduce postoperative opioid consumption, postoperative sleep or perceived quality of recovery. This randomised controlled trial assigned 60 patients undergoing cardiac surgery to receive 1200 mg of gabapentin or placebo two hours preoperatively, and then 600 mg of gabapentin or placebo twice a day for the next two postoperative days. Postoperative opioid use was measured by the amount of fentanyl used in the first 48 hours postoperatively. Pain at rest and with movement at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after surgery, sleep scores on postoperative days two and three and patient-perceived quality of recovery were also assessed. Fentanyl use, visual analog pain scores, sleep scores, adjunctive pain medication use and number of anti-emetics given were not significantly different between the gabapentin and placebo groups. The incidence of side-effects was similar between the gabapentin and placebo groups, and no difference was found between groups in relation to quality of recovery. These findings indicate that preoperative use of gabapentin followed by postoperative dosing for two days did not significantly affect the postoperative pain, sleep, opioid consumption or patient-perceived quality of recovery for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
ISSN:0310-057X
1448-0271
DOI:10.1177/0310057X1003800306