Gabapentin for post-operative nausea and vomiting: a pilot study
Keywords:
Gabapentin, Post-operative nausea and vomiting, CholecystectomyAbstract
Background: Gabapentin has been used in perioperative setting for the management of post-operative pain for surgery performed under general anaesthesia. Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) even with the use of newer agents remains a major problem. The primary aim of this study was to see if gabapentin use decreased PONV.
Methods: A total of 40 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia with standardized premedication and anesthetics were randomized to receive gabapentin or a matching placebo. The patients in Group I received gabapentin 600 mg orally 2 hrs before surgery and 12 hrs after the first dose. The patients in Group II received a matching placebo orally 2 hrs before surgery and 12hrs after the first dose. Patients in both groups received diclofenac sodium 75 mg i.m b.i.d for pain and ondensetron 4 mg i.v for PONV. Additional doses were given on demand and recorded. The treatment was double blinded.
Results: The present study did not find significant reduction in PONV score and antiemetic consumption in gabapentin group when compared to a placebo for a period of 24 hrs.
Conclusions: Gabapentin in the doses used was found to ineffective in post-operative nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standardized pre-anaesthetic and anaesthetic medication.
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References
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