The aim was to document beneficial and harmful effects of perioperative gabapentin treatment. Methods: Randomized clinical trials comparing gabapentin vs. placebo or active placebo in adult surgical patients receiving gabapentin perioperatively were included. In this trustworthy systematic review, use of gabapentin for post-operative pain management was scrutinized. In summary, the quality of evidence for a clinically relevant benefit of gabapentin is low, and, importantly, harm may be present. In response to the opioid crisis, surgeons nationwide have sought to decrease opioid use by adopting opioid-sparing multimodal medication regimens to treat perioperative pain. 1 For example, gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) are now commonly administered during the perioperative period as part of “enhanced recovery after surgery A recent systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported that both gabapentin and pregabalin were efficacious in the management of postoperative pain in the immediate post-operative period. 46 Khurana et al demonstrated that pregabalin is associated with less pain intensity and improved functional outcomes three months after Pre-operative gabapentin does not decrease long-term narcotic use and is associated with increased side effects of respiratory depression, sedation, and falls. Post-operative gabapentin (600 mg) may be equally effective as a preoperative dose in decreasing PACU narcotic use. • Level 3 Fabritius ML, Geisler A, Petersen PL, et al. Gabapentin for post-operative pain management—a systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand . 2016;60(9):1188-1208. doi: 10.1111/aas.12766 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, has recently been suggested as an effective postoperative ‘analgesic’ agent. The objective of the present study was to examine the analgesic effectiveness, opioid-sparing effects and side effects associated with the use of gabapentin in a perioperative setting. 1. Helmerhorst et al, Satisfaction with Pain Relief After Operative Treatment of an Ankle Fracture, Injury. 2012; 43(11):1958-61. 2. Helmerhorst et al, Pain Relief After Operative Treatment of an Extremity Fracture, JBJS Am. 2017; 99:1908-15. 3. Lovecchio et al, Support for Safer Opioid Prescribing Practices, JBJS Am. 2017; 99:1945-55. 4. Rose MA, Kam PC. Gabapentin: pharmacology and its use in pain management. Anaesthesia 2002; 57:451–462. [Google Scholar] 7. Chouinard G, Beauclair L, Belanger MC. Gabapentin: long-term antianxiety and hypnotic effects in psychiatric patients with comorbid anxiety-related disorders. Can J Psychiatry 1998; 43:305. [Google Scholar] 8. High dose gabapentin taper may be considered for patients with concomitant post-operative pain and alcohol withdrawal to decrease benzodiazepine use (see Alcohol Withdrawal Guideline) Current evidence does not support the routine use of gabapentinoids as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen in enhanced recovery pathways. We recommend being selective with regard to using gabapentinoids for acute postoperative pain management after careful consideration of the potential side effe Perioperative pain treatment often consist of combinations of non-opioid and opioid analgesics, ‘multimodal analgesia’, in which gabapentin is currently used. The aim was to document beneficial and harmful effects of perioperative gabapentin treatment. Gabapentin appears safe and well tolerated when used for persistent post-operative and post-traumatic pain in thoracic surgery patients, although minor side effects do occur. Gabapentin may relieve refractory chest wall pain in some of these patients, particularly those with more severe pain. However, perioperative gabapentin demonstrated a modest effect in promoting postoperative opioid cessation. Based on these findings, perioperative gabapentin may promote opioid cessation and prevent the development of chronic opioid use after surgery. Gabapentin is a novel drug used for the treatment of postoperative pain with antihyperalgesic properties and a unique mechanism of action, which differentiates it from other commonly used drugs. Various studies have shown that perioperative use of gabapentin reduces postoperative pain. This review evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of peri-operative gabapentin administration to control acute post-operative pain. Peri-operative gabapentin administration was found to be effective in reducing pain scores, opioid requirements and opioid-related adverse effects in the first 24 hours after surgery. Gabapentin has been used to control pain in patients suffering from osteoarthritis and cancer. However, it is useful for postoperative pain associated with limb amputations, intervertebral disk surgery, fractures, or any other exceedingly painful surgical procedure. Increasing numbers of randomized trials indicate that gabapentin is effective as a postoperative analgesic. This procedure-specific systematic review aims to analyse the 24-hour postoperative effect of gabapentin on acute pain in adults. 3.2 Prescription Post‐operative celecoxib 400 mg initial dose followed by 200 mg bid for 5 days is recommended in patients having a colorectal resection where NO anastomosis is performed (for example, abdominal perineal resection) and where no contraindications to its use are present. Gabapentin 250 mg is statistically superior to placebo in the treatment of established acute postoperative pain, but the NNT of 11 for at least 50% pain relief over 6 hours with gabapentin 250 mg is of limited clinical value and inferior to commonly used analgesics.
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