A Single Dose Of Preoperative Pregabalin For Pain After Total Mastectomy And Axillary Dissection:a Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial

Objective:Perioperative administration of pregabalin, which is effective for neuropathic pain, might reduce early postoperative and chronic pain. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for reducing both acute postoperative movable pain and the development of chronic pain in patients after total mastectomy and axillary dissection.Methods:Eighty patients were randomly assigned to groups that received pregabalin150mg or placebo (VitC)1h before surgery. Assessments of movable pain and side effects were performed24h postoperatively. The incidences of chronic pain were recorded3months after surgery.Results:Seventy-five patients completed the study. Visual Analogue Scale scores for movable pain in the pregabalin group (n=37) than the placebo group (n=38) during24h postoperatively (P<0.05). However, incidences of dizziness were higher in the pregabalin group (P<0.05). There were no differences between the groups in the incidences of chronic pain at3months after surgery.Conclusion:Perioperative administration of pregabalin (150mg) was effective in reducing early postoperative movable pain but not chronic pain in patients undergoing total mastectomy and axillary dissection. Caution should be taken regarding dizziness.