Effect of pregabalin on postoperative pain after shoulder arthroscopy

BackgroundPostoperative pain is difficult to be managed with the use of opioids analgesia alone, so multimodal pain management is a method to improve postoperative analgesia with minimal side effects. Pregabalin has an analgesic and opioid sparing effects in postoperative analgesia. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of premedication with pregabalin on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy.MethodsEighty patients ASA I-II and aged 18–60 years undergoing elective shoulder arthroscopy were randomized to receive two doses of either placebo or pregabalin 300 mg 12 h and 1 h before surgery. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental (3–5 mg/kg) and atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) and maintained with isoflurane with O2. Patients were studied at 1, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h postoperatively for Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), nalbuphine consumption (was given when VAS > 4), satisfaction score and side effects of pregabalin.ResultsThe VAS scores of the pregabalin group were significantly lower than the control group at 1, 4 and 8 h after surgery. The total nalbuphine consumption at 24 h postoperatively of pregabalin group (33.8 + 6.89) was highly significant lower than the control group (46.4 + 5.72) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between groups in somnolence-dizziness and nausea-vomiting. The satisfaction score was higher in the pregabalin group.ConclusionA 300 mg pregabalin administered 12 h and 1 h preoperatively is a safe and effective method in management of pain after shoulder arthroscopy.