COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PREEMPTIVE ORAL GABAPENTIN WITH PREGABALIN FOR POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY UNDER SUBARACHNOID BLOCK

Introduction:Pain management is important for early mobilization and well-being of the surgical patient.So we compared pregabalin and gabapentin as preemptive analgesic for post operative pain management in patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy under subarachnoid block. Material and methods:In this randomized controlled double blinded study , 60 elective patients posted for abdominal hysterectomy were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients each. Group G900 received 900 mg Gabapentin and group P300 received 300 mg Pregabalin, administered orally 1 hour prior to administration of spinal anesthesia.VAS scores ,first rescue analgesic time,total analgesic requirement, and any adverse effects in first 24 hours postoperatively were compared. Results:Mean total analgesic dose and mean no. of doses in first 24 hour post-operatively were significantly lower while time to first rescue analgesic was significantly more in pregabalin compare to gabapentin. Conclusion:Preemptive pregabalin is more effective for postoperative pain relief compared to gabapentin.