Arthroscopic bankart surgery: Does gabapentin reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption? A triple-blinded randomized clinical trial

BackgroundThe role of gabapentin as preemptive analgesia in managing acute pain following shoulder bankart arthroscopy is controversial and the studies addressing this issue are limited.HypothesisThe present study was undertaken to examine the effects of preemptive single dose of gabapentin on pain management and opioid consumption in patients undergoing arthroscopic bankart surgery.Patients and methodsIn the current triple-blinded randomized clinical trial, 76 eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups either taking gabapentin 600 mg (G group) or placebo (P group). The primary outcomes were pain intensity assessed based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and secondary outcomes were opioid consumption and side effects, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting at 6 h and 24 h follow-up visits.ResultsThe pain intensity were not significantly different between the G and P groups (P > 0.05). The opioid consumption, however, was significantly reduced in G group at both 6 h and 24 h follow-up visits (P < 0.001). Dizziness and sedation were similar in both groups. Nausea and vomiting were significantly lower in G group only at 6 h visit but similar at 24 h follow-up visit (P < 0.001).DiscussionThe preemptive single dose of gabapentin 600 mg administered prior to arthroscopic bankart surgery does not decrease post-operation pain, but reduces opioid consumption. Gabapentin restrained postoperative nausea and vomiting for a short while (less than 6 h).Level of evidenceLevel I, treatment study.