The Effectiveness of Different Doses of Gabapentin in Controlling Postoperative Pain

Introduction & Postopertative pain management is still one of the topics of interest to the anesthetists and surgeons. Postoperative pain has a direct role on the excess hospital stay، and that leads to more morbid complications and extra hospital costs. This study evaluates the efficacy of gabapentin on the control of acute postoperative pain. 90 patients who were scheduled for elective laminectomy were randomly allocated into three groups. Group 1 received 800 mg gabapentin and group 2 400mg gabapentin and group 3 took placebo 2 hours before surgery. Post operative pain was measured in 48 hours after surgery، using Visual Analog Scale (VAS)، and also the mean consumption of opiod and the mean painless period after surgery were measure and compared. The mean of age، weight، and sex and operation time was not significantly different for the three groups. The VAS score was significantly different between the groups (P=0. 000)، with lowest score in group 1 (6. 27) and highest score in placebo group (8. 20). The mean of consumption of opioid in group the 1 (800 mg) was 5. 6 mg، and that was lower than other groups. On the other hand، the onset of pain was significantly different between group 2 and 3 (P=0. 309). The dose of 800mg gabapentin، 2 hours before laminectomy operation is، more effective in reducing postoperative pain، the need for opioid and the increase in the duration of painless period after surgery than the dose of 400 mg. Therefore، it is necessary to evaluate more prospective controlling studies to compare different doses of the gabapentin، other medications on the controlling of pain and the evaluation of their side effects.