Objective: This study aimed at studying the efficacy of the peri-operative use of pregabalin and dexamethasone for post-operative pain relief in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy.
Methods: It is a prospective randomized controlled study. The patients on whom the study had been carried out fulfilled the following criteria: Age: above 20 years till 60 years, Gender: both females and males, ASA I and II, Patients scheduled to undergo elective lumbar laminectomy without fusion, patients had been randomly categorized into 2 equal groups by closed envelope technique, 30 in each group. Group P: Pregabalin + Placebo: Patients had been orally given single dose of 150 mg of pregabalin dissolved in 10 ml distilled water one hour before the initiation of anesthesia and until the second post-operative day, the doses had been given every 12 hours for a total of 4 doses. Group PD: Pregabalin + Dexamethasone: Patients had been orally given single dose of 150 mg of pregabalin dissolved in 10 ml distilled water one hour before the initiation of anesthesia and until the second post-operative day, the doses had been given every 12 hours for a total of 4 doses. Patients received 16 mg dexamethasone intravenously with induction of anesthesia.
Results: There was a significant difference about the heart rate intra operative and the mean arterial blood pressure intraoperative and postoperatively at different intervals. As regarding the ETCO2 group P had a higher average at baseline. Group PD had a significant lower consumption of pethidine in comparison with group P. However, there was no significant difference observed in the consumption of ketorolac between the two groups. In comparison between the two studied groups, the overall mean satisfaction score was significantly higher among group PD than among group P.