Article Text

Download PDFPDF
The Analgesic Effects of Perioperative Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain: A Meta-Analysis
  1. Robert W. Hurley, M.D., Ph.D.,
  2. Steven P. Cohen, M.D.,
  3. Kayode A. Williams, M.D.,
  4. Andrew J. Rowlingson, B.A. and
  5. Christopher L. Wu, M.D.
  1. From the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
  1. Reprint requests: Robert W. Hurley, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Carnegie 280, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287.. E-mail: rhurley3{at}jhmi.edu

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain in animal and human studies. The analgesic effect of its perioperative use has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: This systematic review (meta-analysis) included 12 randomized controlled trials of 896 patients undergoing a variety of surgical procedures that investigated the impact of perioperative administration of gabapentin on postoperative outcome.

Results: The pooled visual analog scores for pain at 4 hours and 24 hours were significantly less in those patients who received gabapentin (weighted mean difference [WMD] = −1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.14 to −0.99 and WMD = −0.74; CI, −1.03 to −0.45, respectively). A concomitant decrease in opioid usage by those patients who received gabapentin was also noted (odds ratio [OR] = −17.84; CI, −23.50 to −12.18). Gabapentin administration was associated with sedation and anxiolysis (OR = 3.28; CI, 1.21-8.87) but not associated with a difference in lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting.

Conclusions: Based on this systematic review, perioperative oral gabapentin is a useful adjunct for the management of postoperative pain that provides analgesia through a different mechanism than opioids and other analgesic agents and would make a reasonable addition to a multimodal analgesic treatment plan.

  • Analgesia
  • Gabapentin
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Opioid
  • Preemptive
  • Surgery

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Presented in part at the 30th Annual Spring Regional Anesthesia Meeting, Toronto, ON, Canada, April 21-25, 2005.