Zahra Ishrat, Zarqa Rani, Iqra Mushtaq, M Taqi


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ABSTRACT

 

Background: Pain after abdominal surgery not only distresses the patient but also results in inadequate respiratory efforts and cough reflex. So pain relief in these surgeries bears more significance than mere patient comfort. Acute postoperative pain can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Preemptive analgesic given before an operation provides early analgesia, even before the initial exposure to a noxious stimulus provides effective postoperative pain relief. In developed countries pre emptive analgesia is practiced routinely as part of well-defined protocol.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of Gabapentin and Diclofenac Sodium as pre-emptive analgesic, for post-operative pain relief in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Department of Anesthesia King Edward Medical University/Mayo Hospital Lahore. Total 140 patients were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups i.e., Gabapentien Group (Group A) and Diclofenac Sodium Group (Group B), 70 patients in each group.  Patients in Group A were given cap. Gabapentin 600mg and in Group B tab. Diclofenac Sodium 100mg along with a sip of water one hour before shifting to operation theatre . All patients were anesthetized with standard general anesthesia protocol with same induction agents. After completion of surgery patients were shifted to recovery area, where pain was measured at 0 and 30minutes then patients were shifted to ward and observed there  for 12hours. In ward pain was measured by VAS half hourly for 1st hour and then for 120 (2 hours) 240 (4 hours), 360 (6 hours) and 720(12 hours) minutes after the surgery.

Results: Mean age of patients in Group-A and in Group-B was 42.18±12.69 and 41.42±10.41 years. In Group-A there were 34 male and 36 female patients while in Group-B there were 37 male and 33 female patients. In this study pain score at 0 and 30th minutes was same in both treatment groups. However at 60th minute patients in Group-A had better pain control as compare to Group-B  at this point, 77% patients in Group-A and 67% in Group-B had no pain. (P-value at 60th Min=0.032). At 120th minute 70% patients in Group-A and 64% in Group-B did not experience any pain. From 240th minute till 720th minute pain control of patients was significantly better in Group-A as compared  to Group-B. While literature searches showed none of the study has compared Diclofenac Sodium with Gabapentin as pre-emptive analgesia especially in patients undergoing abdominal surgeries.

Conclusion: The use of a single oral dose of Gabapentin is significantly effective as compared to Diclofenac Sodium when used as Pre-emptive analgesic for post-operative pain relief. The effect not only lasts longer but it also reduces the need for rescue analgesia.

Keywords: Gabapentin, Diclofenac Sodium, Pre-emptive analgesia, Post-operative  pain relief



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