Evaluation of Preoperative Use of Pregabalin on Postoperative Analgesia After Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has gained wide acceptance because it is associated with reduced pain, lower morbidity, faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay. However, the optimal postoperative pain management method for patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery is still under evaluation and most of the recommendations are based on studies performed in open approach procedures.

Recently, the analgesic effect of pregabalin, as a part of a multimodal analgesia, has been evaluated in many studies. They have shown that pregabalin may have a role in the post operative pain management, as an adjunct. Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant and anxiolytic drug, which have a more favorable pharmacokinetic profile from its predecessor gabapentin.

Inclusion criteria

• ASA physical status I-III
• Patients who undergo laparoscopic colectomy for benign or malignant colorectal disease ( <Τ3 or =T3 tumors without distant metastasis )

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindication for pneumoperitoneum
• Contraindication for laparoscopic approach
• Renal or hepatic insufficiency
• Alcohol or drugs abuse
• History of chronic pain or daily intake of analgesics
• Psychiatric disorders
• Inability of patients to use PCA pump History of intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs the last 24 hours before surgery,use of drainage after the surgery