Author/Authors :
Azemati، Simin نويسنده Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Gholami Dokouhaki، Abbas نويسنده Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Talei، Abdolrasoul نويسنده , , Khademi، Saeed نويسنده Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Moin-Vaziri، Nader نويسنده Department of Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background: Emergence agitation is a transient confusional state that usually
occurs within 10 to 30 minutes of recovery from general anesthesia. It may lead to serious
consequences and increasing hospital costs. This study evaluates the effect of gabapentin
on emergence agitation in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery.
Methods: This randomized, double blind controlled trial enrolled 100 female
patients with American Society of Anesthesiologistsʹ classifications I and II who were
candidates for breast cancer surgery. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups
(n=50) that received either oral gabapentin 600 mg or placebo. Induction and
maintenance of anesthesia were similar in both groups. At the end of surgery, patientʹs
agitation score, pain score, and presence of nausea or vomiting were reported. In the
ward, the presence of headache or dizziness was checked during the first 8 h. Mann-
Whitney test was used for comparison of agitation and pain scores between two groups.
Chi-square test was used for comparing occurrence of nausea, vomiting and qualitative.
The qualitative demographic variable and t-test compared quantitative demographic
variables.
Results: There was a significantly lower incidence of emergence agitation in the
gabapentin group before (P < 0.001) and after (P=0.029) extubation. There were
significantly lower mean agitation scores before (P < 001) and after (P=0.006) extubation
and in the pain score (P=0.005) in the gabapentin group. The need for remifentanil
infusion (P < 0.05) during surgery was significantly lower in the gabapentin group
compared with the placebo group. Occurrence of nausea and vomiting and gabapentin
side effects that included headache or dizziness did not significantly differ between two
groups (P=0.126, P=1, P=0.629 respectively).
Conclusion: Gabapentin not only decreased postoperative pain but also effectively
reduced emergence agitation without any significant side effects in patients undergoing
breast cancer surgery.
