Anesthesia Management: A randomized placebo-controlled trial of two doses of pregabalin for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy

Published in Can J Anaesth. 2014 Jun;61(6):551-557

Authors: George RB et al.   

PURPOSE:

Acute pain after open abdominal hysterectomy limits the function of patients in the postoperative period, but data regarding the analgesic efficacy of a low dose of pregabalin (75 or 150 mg) have been conflicting. This study was performed to determine if a low dose of pregabalin could decrease postoperative opioid use following abdominal hysterectomy when compared with placebo.

METHODS:

American Society of Anesthesiologists I-II patients older than 18 yr and scheduled for open elective abdominal hysterectomy were recruited for participation and randomized to one of three groups: pregabalin 75 mg (P75), pregabalin 150 mg (P150), or placebo. The study drug was administered two hours prior to surgery and 12 hr following the initial dose. Anesthetic technique and postoperative analgesia were standardized. Postoperative pain was managed using patient-controlled analgesia with morphine. Pain at rest and movement as well as nausea were assessed with an 11-point numeric rating scale.

RESULTS:

One hundred and one patients were recruited, and 89 patients completed the study. Mean (SD) cumulative morphine consumption at 24 hr postoperatively was 54.0 (26.2) mg for the placebo group, 53.1 (22.7) mg for the P75 group, and 44.3 (20.9) mg for the P150 group. Independent Student’s t tests indicated no difference between the placebo group and either the P75 group (95% confidence interval [CI]: -11.75 to 13.44; P = 0.8937) or the P150 group (95% CI: -2.74 to 22.15; P = 0.1238).

CONCLUSIONS:

At the doses used in this study, pregabalin treatment may not be effective in reducing opioid use up to 24 hr postoperatively following abdominal hysterectomy.