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Review
. 2020 Apr-Jun;16(2):99-105.
doi: 10.4103/jmas.JMAS_209_18.

Influence of pregabalin on post-operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Dan Zhang  1 , Guangqiang You  1 , Xiaoxiao Yao  1
Affiliations
Review

Influence of pregabalin on post-operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Dan Zhang et al. J Minim Access Surg. 2020 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Background: Pregabalin may have some potential in reducing post-operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the results remain controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of pregabalin on post-operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Materials and methods: PubMed, Embase, Web of science, EBSCO and Cochrane Library databases have been systematically searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of pregabalin versus placebo on post-operative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are included. The primary outcomes are pain scores at 8-12 h and 20-24 h. Secondary outcomes include sedation score, intraoperative fentanyl requirement, post-operative analgesic requirement, operative duration, post-operative nausea and vomiting, as well as respiratory depression. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.

Results: Eight RCTs involving 528 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pregabalin treatment is found to significantly reduce pain scores at 20-24 h (Standard Mean difference [Std. MD] = -0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.82--0.10), and post-operative analgesic requirement (Std. MD = -2.64; 95% CI = -3.94--1.33), but cannot substantially decrease pain scores at 8-12 h (Std. MD = -0.71; 95% CI = -1.70-0.27). In addition, pregabalin results in improved sedation score (Std. MD = 0.92; 95% CI = 0.55-1.29), but has no remarkable influence on intraoperative fentanyl requirement (Std. MD = 0.04; 95% CI = -0.30-0.39), operative duration (Std. MD = 0.34; 95% CI = -0.10-0.77), post-operative nausea and vomiting (Std. MD = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.59-1.11) as well as respiratory depression (Std. MD = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.17-3.02).

Conclusions: Compared to control intervention after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, pregabalin treatment can significantly decrease pain scores at 20-24 h and post-operative analgesic requirement, with no increase in adverse events.

Keywords: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; meta-analysis; post-operative pain; pregabalin; randomised controlled trials.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of study searching and selection process
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of pain scores at 8–12 h
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of pain scores at 20–24 h
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot for the subgroup-analysis of pain scores at 20–24 h
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of sedation score
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of intraoperative fentanyl requirement (μg)
Figure 7
Figure 7
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of post-operative analgesic requirement
Figure 8
Figure 8
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of operative duration (min)
Figure 9
Figure 9
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of post-operative nausea and vomiting
Figure 10
Figure 10
Forest plot for the meta-analysis of respiratory depression
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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