Clinical Study Evaluating Pregabalin Efficacy and Tolerability for Pain Management in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pregabalin in postoperative pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). PATIENTS AND METHODS:A prospective, randomized, placebo, controlled, double-blinded study was conducted at Anesthesia Department, Laparoscopy Surgery Unit, Ain Shams University Hospital. Ninety patients with ASA physical status I-II scheduled for elective LC under general anesthesia were included. Patients were randomly assigned to the following groups (n=30 each)pregabalin group (P), received 150 mg pregabalin capsules 2 hours preoperatively, 12 hours postoperatively, and twice daily for 2 days; gabapentin group (G), received 1200 mg gabapentin capsules (400 mg, ×3) 2 hours preoperatively, 12 hours postoperatively, and 400 mg three times daily for 2 days; and control group (C), received placebo capsules. Postoperative pain scores were recorded on a visual analogue scale. The following data were recordedtotal daily pethidine and diclofenac consumption, numeric sedation score, and the postoperative nausea, vomiting, and dizziness scores. RESULTS:The 24-hour pethidine consumption was significantly lower (P