Effects of gabapentin on early postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic surgery for assisted reproductive technologies

Prevention and treatment of postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting continues to be a major challenge in postoperative care. This study was designed to compare the effects of small dose of oral gabapentin with placebo as premedication on early postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic surgery for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Seventy women undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic surgery were randomly assigned to receive oral gabapentin 300 mg or placebo as premedication 1 h before surgery. Patients were anesthetized with the same anesthetic techniques. Duration of anesthesia, severity of postoperative pain and presence of Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) were compared between the study groups. Demographic data and the duration of anesthesia were not statistically different between the study groups. There were significant differences in median VAS scores (25th-75th) measurements at all time points in the study groups (p < 0.05). Ten patients (28%) in control and one patient (0.02%) in gabapentin group required additional IV analgesic that was statistically significant (p = 0.012). Two patients in gabapentin and nine patients in placebo group had nausea (p = 0.022). None of patients in gabapentin but four patients in placebo group had vomiting (p = 0.114). Administration of oral gabapentin 300 mg before ambulatory laparoscopic surgeries, decreased postoperative pain, analgesic requirement and nausea.