Use of pregabalin for preemptive analgesia in an enhanced recovery after surgery program.
265 Background: A key component of any Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program is standardized multimodal analgesia to minimize opioid use. Our program utilizes acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and gabapentanoids perioperatively. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate pregabalin use after surgery and impact on total morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD). Methods: Data was collected retrospectively on consecutive ERAS patients who underwent open gynecologic surgery from 3/4/2016 through 2/22/2018. We excluded any patient identified as a chronic opioid user. Standard preoperative medications included 300 mg tramadol ER, 75 mg pregabalin, and 400 mg celecoxib per institutional guidelines. Standard postoperative pain regimen included scheduled oral acetaminophen, ibuprofen and pregabalin unless contraindicated with rescue oral oxycodone and IV hydromorphone as needed. Pregabalin was ordered 75 mg twice daily for 4 doses. Recommended exceptions to pregabalin included hypersensitivity or age greater than 65 years. Median and range were calculated to summarize continuous variables. Spearman’s rank was used to test the correlation between post-operative pregabalin dose and MEDD. Results: A total of 533 patients were included for analysis. Twelve patients were excluded for chronic opioid use. 38% of patients received all four post-operative pregabalin doses (207/533). 32.8% of patients received no pregabalin (175/533). The fourth dose was the most common missed dose (274/533, 51.4%). The top reasons dose 4 was missed included not being ordered (58.8%) and patient already discharged (12.4%). There were 202 patients older than 65 years, the majority of these patients received no post-operative pregabalin (123/202, 60.9%). There was no difference in the amount of MEDD between those who received all pregabalin doses compared to those who received none (90.75 mg [4-663.5 mg] vs 82.5 mg [4-634.5 mg]; p = 0.269). Conclusions: Pregabalin for preemptive analgesia in an ERAS program does not decrease MEDD.