• Michael J Paech, Raymond Goy, Sebastian Chua, Karen Scott, Tracey Christmas, and Dorota A Doherty.
• Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology Unit, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Australia. michael.paech@health.wa.gov.au
• Anesth. Analg. 2007 Nov 1;105(5):1449-53, table of contents.

BackgroundAlthough pregabalin shows efficacy against neuropathic pain, very limited evidence supports postoperative analgesic efficacy. Our study objective was to investigate analgesic efficacy in an ambulatory day surgical population experiencing acute visceral pain. The null hypothesis was that there was no significant difference in pain relief between pregabalin and placebo.MethodsA randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was performed in 90 women having minor gynecological surgery involving the uterus. Patients received either oral pregabalin 100 mg (Group PG) or placebo (Group C) approximately 1 h before surgery. The primary outcome was pain score in the recovery unit and patients were followed for 24 h.ResultsThere was no significant difference between groups for pain experienced in the recovery room (median, interquartile range 16, 0-36 vs 10, 6.5-36 for Groups PG and C, respectively, P = 0.80) or thereafter; nor for recovery room fentanyl requirement (42% Group PG versus 27% Group C, P = 0.12) or the quality of recovery at 24 h postoperatively (median, interquartile range score 17, 17-18 Group PG versus 18, 16.5-18 Group C, P = 0.75). The incidence of posthospital discharge light-headedness, visual disturbance, and difficulty with walking was significantly higher in the pregabalin group.ConclusionsA single preoperative dose of 100 mg pregabalin does not reduce acute pain or improve recovery after minor surgery involving only the uterus.

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