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The analgesic effect of preoperative pregabalin in radical cystectomy for cancer bladder patients

  • Published:
The Chinese-German Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Objective

After the pregabalin has been approved for the treatment of neuropathic pain, preliminary clinical studies suggested a possible role in the perioperative period. To our knowledge, It has never been studied the perioperative analgesic effect of pregabalin in patients with cancer bladder. In this study, we hypothesized that cancer bladder patients undergoing radical cystectomy and received oral pregabalin 75 mg twice daily for ten days preoperatively would get their postoperative pain reduced.

Methods

Sixty patients scheduled for elective radical cystectomy were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups (control group or pregabalin group). Patients in the pregabalin group received 75 mg pregabalin twice daily for ten days before surgery. Standard anesthesia protocol was applied to all patients. Pain intensity, opioid consumption, level of sedation and other side effects were regularly assessed for 48 h postoperative.

Results

Mean time for the first request of analgesia was statistically longer in pregabalin group. Meanwhile, mean morphine consumption, VAS scores at rest (in the first 32 h postoperatively), VAS scores during movement (in the first 20 h postoperatively) were statistically significant lower in the pregabalin group than those in the control group. Patients in the pregabalin group were statistically more sedated in the first four hours postoperative than the control group.

Conclusion

Preoperative pregabalin 75 mg twice daily for ten days resulted in 60% reduction in 24 h postoperative morphine requirements in patients undergoing radical cystectomy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anesthesia and Pain Management Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Ayman A. Ghoneim & Mohammed M. Hegazy

Authors
  1. Ayman A. Ghoneim
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  2. Mohammed M. Hegazy
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Correspondence to Ayman A. Ghoneim.

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Ghoneim, A.A., Hegazy, M.M. The analgesic effect of preoperative pregabalin in radical cystectomy for cancer bladder patients. Chin. -Ger. J. Clin. Oncol. 12, 113–117 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-013-1136-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10330-013-1136-8

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