EFFECT OF PREOPERATIVE ORAL PREGABALIN ON POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER MASTECTOMY.

BACKGROUND: This was a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial to study the effects of a single oral dose of pregabalin 150 mg in postoperative pain management after mastectomy.

DESIGN: forty nine patients ASA I or II, aged between 20-60 years, scheduled for mastectomy with or without axillary lymph nodes dissection (ALND) were recruited into this study. They were randomized into two groups, placebo (n = 24) or pregabalin (n = 25) receiving either oral pregabalin 150 mg or placebo when called to operation theatre (OT). The assessment of pain score were performed at recovery, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours postoperatively at rest and on movement, using the verbal numeral rating score (VNRS).

RESULTS: VNRS scores for pain at rest were lower in the pregabalin group at 2 (p = 0.024), 4 (p = 0.006) and 6 (p = 0.003) hours postoperatively, and also at 4 (p = 0.005) and 6 (p = 0.016) hours postoperatively on movement compared to the placebo group. Incidences. of dizziness were common, however, side effects such as nausea and vomiting, headache, somnolence and visual disturbance were low and comparable in both groups.

CONCLUSION: A single dose of 150 mg pregabalin given preoperatively compared to placebo significantly reduced postoperative pain scores after mastectomy.