The effect of preemptive gabapentin and pregabalin on postoperative pain of septoplasty with and without turbinoplasty: a randomized triple-blind controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Septoplasty is a painful process. Nowadays, opioids and non-opioids are used to control patients’ pain, which has different efficacy and consequences. We aimed to assess the effect of preemptive gabapentin and pregabalin on postoperative pain of septoplasty with and without turbinoplasty. Methods This randomized triple-blind controlled clinical trial was performed on patients over 18 years who were candidates for elective septoplasty in Besat Hospital of Hamadan. In this study, 102 patients were randomly assigned to three equal groups, including pregabalin, gabapentin, and placebo. The pain score (VAS scale), analgesic use, and complications were assessed at the second, sixth, and 16th hours after surgery. Results Results showed that the mean pain score in the control group was higher than pregabalin and gabapentin at all times after surgery (P < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference between the pregabalin and gabapentin groups (P = 0.729). At the second and sixth hours after surgery, the amount of analgesic used in the control group was significantly higher than pregabalin and gabapentin (P < 0.001). But there was no significant difference between pregabalin and gabapentin groups regarding the used analgesics. Also, at 6 h after surgery, the incidence of complications in the control group was significantly higher than in the pregabalin group (P = 0.006), but there was no statistically significant difference between the control group and the gabapentin group. Conclusions Administering gabapentin or pregabalin, 1 h before surgery in patients undergoing septoplasty with or without turbinoplasty, can reduce postoperative pain and complications. Therefore, it is recommended to administer 300 mg oral pregabalin or 600 mg oral gabapentin 1 h before surgery to reduce pain after septoplasty. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2015112024852N2. Registered on August 28, 2016—retrospectively registered,  https://www.irct.ir/trial/20897.