Table 4 Prevention of chronic post-operative pain with perioperative gabapentin and pregabalin: randomized, placebo-controlled studies
Study | Surgery | Metric of pain assessment | Treatment | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fassoulaki 2005 [86] | Breast surgery for cancer | Presence of pain (yes vs no) | Gabapentin (400 mg q6h, started 12 h pre-op, continued to POD 8, local anesthetic cream, and ropivacaine in wound (n = 25) vs placebo (n = 25) | Non-significant trend to less pain (30% vs 57%) and anesthetic use (0% vs 19%) at 6 months |
Buvanendran 2010 [87] | Total knee arthroplasty | Neuropathic pain via Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs scale | Pregabalin (300 mg) (n = 113) vs placebo (n = 115) | Significantly reduced pain in pregabalin group (0% at 3 & 6 months) vs placebo (8.7% and 5.2% at 3 & 6 mo). |
Sen 2009 [88] | Elective hysterectomy | Verbal rating scale scores | Gabapentin 1.2 g w/placebo infusion (n = 20); ketamine w/oral placebo (n = 20); Control group (n = 20) | Significantly reduced pain scores in gabapentin group vs ketamine & placebo at 6 months |