Does preoperative administration of gabapentin/pregabalin improve postoperative nasal surgery pain?

OBJECTIVES: Gabapentin and pregabalin has been shown to reduce postoperative pain effectively. In this meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the role of preoperative gabapentinoids for attenuating postoperative pain after nasal surgery in patients via a meta-analysis of the literature.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Database.

METHODS: Literature was screened from inception to December 2015. Nine articles to compare the preoperative administered gabapentinoid (gabapentinoids groups) with a placebo or analgesics (control group) were included for analysis of the outcomes of interest, which included postoperative pain scores, analgesic intakes, or side effects, such as sedation, nausea and vomiting, blurred vision, operative bleeding, dizziness, and headache, during a 24-hour postoperative period.

RESULTS: The pain score reported by the physician and need for analgesics during the first 24 hours, postoperatively, in the gabapentinoids group significantly reduced compared with the control. Additionally, the gabapentinoids had no significant effect on the incidences of side effects except blurred vision compared with the control during the 24 hours postoperatively. In the subgroup analyses of these results according to operation type, these subgroups showed similar effects on reducing postoperative pain and adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative gabapentinoids could attenuate postoperative pain without significant adverse effects in patients who undergo nasal surgery. However, blurred vision may be a handicap that requires consideration for use and education for patients. Further clinical trials will be of help in supporting the results of this study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 126:2232-2241, 2016.