Comparison of Pregabalin and Gabapentin as Pre-emptive Analgesics in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgeries

Abstract

Objective: To compare the analgesic effects of Pregabalin and Gabapentin during elective abdominal surgeries.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study.

Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Feb to Aug 2021.

Methodology: Patients with ASA physical status I, II, and III were enrolled in the study. The total number of patients was 152,divided into Group-A, which received 300mg of oral Gabapentin. In contrast, Group-B received 75 mg of oral Pregabalin an hour before induction of general anaesthesia. In addition, the analgesic requirement in the postoperative period, pain visual analogue scores and side effects were recorded.

Results: Out of 152 patients recruited in the study 68(44%) were males whereas 84(56%) were females with a mean age of 42.86±7.07 years. Based on ASA classification, 33(22%) patients were from ASA-I, 91(60%) patients were from ASA-II, and 27(18%) patients were from ASA-III. Pregabalin was a potent analgesic with a significant influence on the visual analogue score, increased duration to the first analgesic administration and a decreased consumption of opioids post-operatively compared with Gabapentin revealing significant results (p-value <0.001). However, no statistically significant association was derived regarding adverse effects between the two groups.

Conclusion: Pregabalin significantly reduces post-operative visual analogue scores, increased duration to first analgesic dose requirement and Opioid consumption post-operatively when compared with Gabapentin with no significant difference in adverse effect profile.