Comparative Evaluation of Two Different Doses of Pre-Emptive Oral Pregabalin on Duration of Spinal Anesthesia and Postoperative Pain

Pregabalin provides good postoperative analgesia in nociceptive stimuli. Various studies show that preemptive oral pregabalin reduces acute postoperative pain. We conducted a study to evaluate the efficacy of two different doses of pregabalin and its effect on onset and duration of spinal anesthesia and postoperative pain.

In prospective, double-blind and randomized study, 60 patients posted for vaginal hysterectomy under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to two groups recieving cap. Pregabalin 75 mg (group 1) and cap pregabalin 150 mg (group 2) orally, 90 min prior to surgery. Onset and duration of motor and sensory blockade were observed. Postoperative pain was assessed by VAS for 24 hrs. Injection paracetamol 1 gm. was given intravenously as rescue analgesic. Time of first rescue analgesic and total dose of rescue analgesics was noted.

Group 2 patients had better postoperative analgesia in terms of prolonged sensory and motor blockade which correlated well with the time of first request for rescue analgesia (504±123.2 min) as compared to group 1 patients (304.9±37.6 min). Also the total dose of rescue analgesic (paracetamol) was significantly less with 150mg pregabalin (p = 0.0001).

Pregabalin 150 mg prolongs the duration of spinal anesthesia and has better analgesic profile without significant side effects. Thus we conclude that 150 mg pregabalin given preemptively optimizes spinal anesthesia well in patients for vaginal hysterectomy.