Evaluation of the optimum preemptive dose of gabapentin and its postoperative morphine-sparing effect after debridement of burned patient

We evaluated the optimal dose of preemptive gabapentin for postoperative pain relief after debridement of burned patient and its effect on morphine consumption during the initial 24 h after surgery. Patients were divided into seven groups to receive gabapentin 300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500, 1800, and 2100 mg 1 h before surgery. After surgery, patients were transferred to the postanesthesia care unit. Pain scores were recorded at time points of 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h in postanesthesia care unit on a visual analog scale (VAS: 0–10 cm). Patients received patient-controlled analgesia (morphine), and total morphine consumption during the initial 24 h was recorded. Data were entered into statistical software package SPSS 9.0 for analysis. Patients who received gabapentin 600, 900, 1200, 1500, and 1800 mg had lower VAS scores at all time points than patients who received gabapentin 300 mg. Increasing the dose of gabapentin from 1500 to 1800 mg did not decrease the VAS score nor it decreased morphine consumption. Thus, gabapentin 1500 mg is the optimal preemptive dose for postoperative pain relief following debridement of burn patients.