Pain Control in Children and Adolescent After Thoracic Surgery: The Effect of Gabapentin

The subjects are randomized to the Gabapentin or Placebo group. All patients receive preoperative gabapentin (15 mg/kg, treatment) or placebo, respectively and after surgery either gabapentin (7,5 mg/kg, treatment) or placebo 2 times per day for 3 days, respectively.

Patients are subjected to the same anaesthesia protocol. Postoperative analgesia are achieved with either continuous ropivacaine 0.2%/fentanyl 5.0 μg/ml infusion through a thoracic epidural catheter (N=40; Gabapentin n=20, Placebo n=20), or intravenous infusion of morphine (N=40; Gabapentin n=20, Placebo n=20). All patients receive acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and metamizol as a "rescue drug"

The intravenous infusion of morphine grup was expanded on the basis of the bioethics commission's decision KB-125/2019 (N=64; Gabapentin n=32, Placebo n=32).

Inclusion criteria

• 5 - 18 years of age;
• surgery: lateral thoracotomy or Ravitch procedure;
• ASA 1-3;
• postoperative analgesia: thoracic epidural analgesia or intravenous infusion of morphine.

Exclusion criteria

• allergy or sensitivity to gabapentin;
• history of chronic pain or daily analgesic use;
• diagnosed with psychiatric disorders;
• treated oncologically;
• with impaired verbal communication;
• the lack of postoperative chest drainage.