Perioperative gabapentin and pregabalin in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Sternotomy for cardiac surgeries causes significant postoperative pain and when not properly managed may cause significant morbidity. As neuropathic pain is a significant component here, gabapentin and pregabalin may be effective in these patients and may reduce postoperative opioid consumption. The purpose of this systematic review was to find out efficacy of gabapentin and pregabalin in acute postoperative pain after cardiac surgery. Methods: Published prospective human randomized clinical trials, which compared pre-operative and/or postoperative gabapentin/pregabalin with placebo or no treatment for postoperative pain management after cardiac surgery has been included in this review. Results: Four RCTs each for gabapentin and pregabalin have been included in this systematic review. Three gabapentin and two pregabalin studies reported decrease in opioid consumption in cardiac surgical patients while one gabapentin and two pregabalin studies did not. Three RCTs each for gabapentin and pregabalin reported lower pain scores both during activity and rest. The drugs are not associated with any significant complications. Conclusion: Despite lower pain scores in the postoperative period, there is insufficient evidence to recommend routine use of gabapentin and pregabalin to reduce opioid consumption in the cardiac surgical patients. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.