Administration of Preoperative Gabapentin to Patients Undergoing Laparoscopy: A Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of immediate preoperative gabapentin on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopy for benign gynecologic indications. Materials and Methods: This double-blinded, placebo controlled randomized trial involved 109 gynecologic patients undergoing laparoscopy between June 2015 and January 2016 at an academic tertiary care hospital. They were randomized to receive to receive preoperative gabapentin (300 mg) or placebo. Pain scores were assessed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours postoperatively as well as on postoperative days 1-7. Results: The 109 patients were randomized to receive either preoperative gabapentin or placebo. The patients were stratified based on history of chronic pelvic pain. There was no difference between the groups in terms of age, body mass index, gravidity, parity, or past surgical histories. Postoperative pain was assessed with a numeric pain rating scale (NRS), rated as 0-10, and a visual analogue scale (VAS), rated as 0-100. These values were adjusted for morphine doses received. There was no significant difference in pain scores at any of the immediate postoperative hours. A secondary analysis, stratified by procedure (hysterectomy or operative laparoscopy), showed no significant differences in pain scores. There were also no significant differences in pain scores on postoperative days 1-7. Conclusions: A single dose of preoperative gabapentin did not significantly decrease postoperative pain in gynecologic patients undergoing laparoscopy for benign indications. (J GYNECOL SURG 36:173).