ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of preoperative, single dose 150 mg Pregabalin on block characteristics and postoperative analgesia in patients who undergo hand and forehand surgery with axillary block.

Sixty patients were randomly divided into two groups: Group P (n=30) received 150 mg Pregabalin and Group K (n=30) received a placebo capsule 1 hour before the surgery. After routine monitoring, axillary block was performed. Respiratory and haemodynamic parameters, block characteristics, sedation scores, severity of postoperative pain, time of onset of postoperative pain and analgesic requirement time were recorded.

While the haemodynamic parameters, characteristics of axillary block, onset of postoperative pain and analgesic requirement time were similar between the groups, postoperative 4th and 6th hour pain scores were lower in Group P (p=0.002, p=0.002). Also one patient in Group K and nine patients in Group P did not require any analgesics in the first 24 hour (p=0.012).

We concluded that a single dose of 150 mg Pregabalin, given one hour before axillary block, reduces postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in the early postoperative period.

Keywords: Pregabalin, analgesia, axillary block