PREEMPTIVE SINGLE ORAL DOSE OF GABAPENTIN (600 MG) PROVIDES SAFE ADEQUATE ANALGESIA FOR IMMEDIATE POST-TONSILLECTOMY PAIN

Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of preemptive single oral dose of gabapentin on postoperative pain after tonsillectomy in adult patients. Patients Methods: 60 adult patients were randomly divided equally into: Group T received oral tramadol 100 mg, Groups G600 and G1200 received oral gabapentin 600 mg and 1200 mg, respectively. Postoperative pain was recorded at rest and on swallowing at 1, 2, 3, 4 hrs after surgery in the post-anesthetic care unit (PACU). Duration of postoperative (PO) analgesia till patient has VAS score of ≥4 and/or requests rescue analgesia was recorded. Results: Duration of PO analgesia was significantly longer in G groups compared to group T. During PACU stay, all enrolled patients requested rescue analgesia however; number of patients requested early rescue analgesia was significantly higher in group T compared to G groups. Collective 1^st 4-hr VAS scores evaluated during rest were significantly lower in G groups compared to group T and despite the gradually decreasing pain intensity with swallowing through the 1^st 4-hr PO, mean differential and collective VAS scores determined during swallowing were significantly higher compared to those determined during rest, irrespective of the study group. Mean sedation score was significantly higher in group G1200 compared to group T and was non-significantly higher compared to group G600. Conclusion: Preemptive oral single dose of gabapentin 600 mg safely ameliorates immediate post-tonsillectomy pain in adults both in rest and during swallowing and reduces the need for PO rescue analgesia