Evaluation of Gabapentine Effects on Anxiety and Pain after Ocular Surgery under Local Anesthesia by Tetracaine

Pain is a significant aspect of post-operative patient morbidity. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of oral gabapentin administration as premedication in the management of postoperative pain in patients undergone local anesthesia for cataract surgery. Patients and The study was a randomized, double–blind, controlled trial. Sixty-one patients who were candidates for eye surgery under local tetracaine anesthesia were enrolled in this study and divided into two gabapentin (n=32) and placebo (n=29) groups. In gabapentin group, the patients received oral gabapentin (300 mg) the night before surgery and the morning of surgery before operation. The pain and sedation scores were evaluated 20, 40, 60 and 120 minutes after surgery by visual analogue scale (VAS) and Ramsay score, respectively. In gabapentin group,the pain score (VAS) during follow-up period was significantly lower than the patients who received placebo (p<0.001). Ramsay score increased significantly in gabapentin group during the follow-up period (p<0.001). Our study showed that gabapentin could reduce postoperative pain. In addition, total amount of opioid consumption for relieving pain in patients undergone local anesthesia for eye surgery was reduced.