Preoperative gabapentin decreases the incidence of postoperative vomiting and analgesic requirements after pediatric adenotonsillectomy

Perioperative gabapentin usage in pediatric patients: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

There has been a recent focus among anesthesiologists on reducing the use of perioperative opioids in favor of multimodal analgesic regimens. Gabapentin has played an integral role in this evolution of practice. This comprehensive review assesses the current clinical evidence on the efficacy of perioperative gabapentin regarding postoperative pain and opioid requirements among the pediatric surgery population.

DATA SOURCES

Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science Review.

METHODS

This scoping review of the above databases includes all studies examining the use of gabapentin perioperatively in pediatric patients and its association with postoperative pain intensity and postoperative opioid consumption through July 2021. The inclusion criteria encompassed all studies evaluating gabapentin in the perioperative pediatric population through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies. Relevant metadata from each study were abstracted and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

RESULTS

Fifteen papers met the inclusion criteria for this review, including 11 RCTs and 4 retrospective studies. Sample sizes ranged from 20 to 144 patients. Administered doses varied widely, mainly between 5 and 20 mg/kg. The studies included primarily orthopedic (10) and neck surgery cases (3). Seven papers had gabapentin provided preoperatively only, two postoperative only, and six both pre- and postoperatively. Of the studies assessing postoperative pain, 6/11 studies saw a decrease in postoperative pain in at least one period for the gabapentin group. Of the studies considering opioid requirements, 6/10 reported a reduction, 1/10 an increase, and 3/10 no difference in opioid requirements for the gabapentin groups. Yet, most of these pain and opioid requirement findings were only significant at one to two time points in the study follow-up periods, and the actual decreases had minimal clinical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The current data on perioperative gabapentin in pediatric patients are insufficient to support the routine use of gabapentin in pediatric patients. Additional high-quality RCTs with more standardized protocols for gabapentin administration and outcome measures are necessary to provide more definitive conclusions.

Perioperative Indications for Gabapentinoids in Pediatrics: A Narrative Review

In recent years, there has been increased interest in using gabapentinoids (gabapentin and pregabalin) as part of multimodal medication plans or enhanced recovery after surgery protocols to mitigate several perioperative clinical challenges. Outcomes explored in the context of using gabapentinoids perioperatively in children are variable and include acute complications of pain, anxiety, nausea and vomiting, and emergence agitation, as well as the long-term postoperative outcome of chronic postsurgical pain. This narrative review describes the current literature regarding perioperative use of gabapentinoids in pediatric patients and aims to describe the role of gabapentinoids in the perioperative setting for each specific indication.

Perioperative Gabapentin in Pediatric Thoracic Surgery Patients-Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 4 Trial

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the use of perioperative gabapentin reduces postoperative pain and anxiety, decreases ropivacaine consumption and side effects, and improves patient satisfaction.

DESIGN

Randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 4 trial.

BLINDING

Participants, care providers, investigators, data analysts.

SETTING

Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Rabka Zdrój Branch, Poland.

SUBJECTS

Forty patients undergoing the Ravitch procedure.

METHODS

Patients aged nine to 17 years were randomized into a gabapentin (preoperative 15 mg/kg, treatment) or placebo group. Postoperative analgesia included gabapentin (7.5 mg/kg) or placebo two times per day for three days, epidural ropivacaine + fentanyl, paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and metamizol as a "rescue drug." Pain, anxiety, analgesic consumption, side effects, and patient satisfaction were recorded.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in median pain scores (numerical rating scale < 1/10) or incidence of adverse side effects between the gabapentin group (N = 20) and the placebo group (N = 20). Postoperative anxiety scores were significantly lower than before surgery in the gabapentin group (6 [4-8] vs 7 [6-8.5], P < 0.01) and remained unchanged in the placebo group (6 [5-6.5] vs 6 [5-7], P = 0.07). Gabapentin-treated patients received a lower number of doses of ondansetron when compared with the placebo group (6 [5-6] vs 7 [6-9], P = 0.02). A significant negative association was found between patient satisfaction and postoperative state anxiety in the gabapentin group (R = -0.51, P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative administration of gabapentin resulted in a decrease of postoperative anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing the Ravitch procedure.

Gabapentin for Perioperative Analgesia in Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Recent research has investigated the role of gabapentin in perioperative pain relief in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery. This review aims to identify whether sufficient evidence exists for the routine use of gabapentin in the perioperative setting.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL, EMBASE, and Google Scholar.

REVIEW METHODS

A comprehensive systematic search was performed with keywords for articles up to November 2015. The systematic review included all randomized, placebo-, and active-controlled trials investigating the role of perioperative gabapentin for pain in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery. The studies were assessed for risk of bias and selected and reviewed by the main author. Selected trials were required to have data in the form of pain intensity scores, analgesic consumption, adverse effects, or return to normal function.

RESULTS

A total of 14 randomized controlled trials were included, of which 4 had an active control. The placebo-controlled trials included 4 for tonsillectomy, 3 for rhinology, and 3 for thyroidectomy. These studies were not suitable for meta-analysis. Trial quality involving gabapentin in tonsillectomy surgery is variable. The higher-quality studies reported significantly reduced analgesic consumption in the gabapentin groups, with the effect on pain scores less clear. There was a significant benefit, within the first 24 hours, in pain and analgesic consumption as compared with placebo favoring the gabapentin groups following rhinologic and thyroid surgery.

CONCLUSION

Overall, gabapentin appears to have a significant beneficial effect on perioperative pain relief and analgesic consumption in otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery procedures within the first 24 hours.

The efficacy of gabapentin/pregabalin in improving pain after tonsillectomy: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Gabapentin and pregabalin are useful for treating neuropathic pain because of their antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic properties, which may be beneficial in managing acute postoperative pain. The goal of this meta-analysis was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the effect of gabapentinoids on postoperative pain following tonsillectomy, and its adverse effects in patients.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane database.

METHODS

Two authors independently searched the databases from their inception of article collection to May 2015. Included in the analysis were studies that compared preoperative gabapentinoid administration (gabapentinoids groups) with a placebo or pain control agent (control group) during a 24-hour postoperative period, the outcomes of interest being postoperative pain intensity; rescue analgesic consumption; or adverse effects such as sedation, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and headache.

RESULTS

The pain score reported by the physician during the first 8 hours, as well as the need for analgesics during 24 hours postoperatively, were significantly decreased in the gabapentinoids group versus the control group. Additionally, there was no significant difference between gabapentinoids and control groups for adverse effect during 24 hours postoperatively. In the subgroup analyses (gabapentin and pregabalin) regarding pain-related measurements, two subgroups showed the similar effect on reducing the postoperative pain severity.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative administration of gabapentinoids could provide pain relief without side effects in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. However, considering the insufficient evaluation of efficacy of gabapentinoids according to the high heterogeneity in some parameters, further clinical trials with robust research methodology should be conducted in order to confirm the results of this study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA.