Effect of oral gabapentin premedication on hemodynamic parameters and postoperative pain in patients of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized double-blind controlled study

Background and Aims: Carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum created during laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes adverse hemodynamic changes such as rise in arterial pressure. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of oral gabapentin premedication on hemodynamic parameters in addition to postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain in patients of laparoscopic cholecystectomy conducted under general anesthesia. Material and Methods: Randomly selected 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class I patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were premedicated with either gabapentin 1200 mg (Group GB) or placebo (Group PL) 2 h prior to induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, propofol, and vecuronium; and maintained with oxygen (33%), nitrous oxide (66%), and isoflurane (1%) with controlled ventilation. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at various time intervals intraoperatively and during pneumoperitoneum every 10 min till 50 min. Postoperatively visual analog score (VAS) for pain, incidence of PONV, and sedation score were recorded for 6 h. The collected data were analyzed statistically by using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student's t test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Changes in mean BP, systolic BP, and diastolic BP from prepneumoperitoneum values were significantly less in group GB during pneumoperitoneum (P < 0.05) with no significant change in HR in both groups (>0.05). VAS score was significantly lower in group GB. The duration of analgesia and PONV free period were significantly higher in group GB (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Oral gabapentin premedication may be used to control hemodynamic parameters during pneumoperitoneum in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.