Comparing efficacy of oral clonidine and gabapentin premedication for post-operative pain and analgesic requirement in patient undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Post-operative pain is an area, which has been receiving an increasing amount of attention in recent years. Pain associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been an area of interest for many, various modalities have been tried for pain relief.

Aims and Objectives: The study aimed at comparing analgesic efficacy of oral clonidine and gabapentin premedication on post-operative pain and analgesic requirement in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Materials and Methods: Ninety patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Status I and II, between 20 and 60 years undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomized into three groups. Group C received 150 mcg of clonidine, Group G received 600 mg of gabapentin, and Group P received placebo multivitamin tablets 2 h before surgery. The primary objective was to study the duration of post-operative analgesia and total rescue analgesic required. The secondary objective was to find out any sedation and adverse effect associated with the use of premedicant drugs.

Results: The duration of analgesia was found to be highest in Group G (174.33±85.81 min) than in Group C (77.17±63.99 min) and Group P (29.33±14.55 min). Total dose of tramadol consumption in 6 h was highest in Group P (91.67±23.06 mg) with statistically insignificant difference between Group G (46.67±12.69 mg) and Group C (48.33±9.13 mg). No statistically significant adverse event was noted in post-operative period.

Conclusion: The use of oral clonidine and gabapentin 2 h before laparoscopic cholecystectomy significantly prolongs duration of post-operative analgesia and decreases the requirement of rescue analgesics without causing any significant adverse events.