The Effectiveness of Gabapentin for Post-operative Pain Following Cesarean Section

The Effectiveness of a Pre-operative Single Dose Administration of Gabapentin for Management of Post-operative Pain Following Cesarean Section: a Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Dose-finding Study

Gabapentin has been very effective at treating pain after knee and hip operations, hysterectomies, and many other types of operations. A previous study at the investigators' hospital found that a single pre-operative dose of 600mg gabapentin produced a significant reduction in pain after caesarean section. However, 19% complained of sedation. The purpose of this study is to see whether a reduced dose of gabapentin will produce a similar improvement in pain scores while avoiding adverse effects such as sedation or dizziness. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of a single pre-operative oral dose of gabapentin 300mg, versus 600mg and placebo in women undergoing Cesarean section. The investigators' hypothesis is that gabapentin 300mg will result in decreased pain scores similar to gabapentin 600mg, but with reduced side effects.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Pain
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: lactose; Drug: Gabapentin 300mg; Drug: Gabapentin 600mg

Detailed Description

Post-operative pain is the greatest fear of women who undergo Cesarean section, and despite current analgesic regimens, this pain can be severe, impeding the mother's recovery and her ability to bond with and breastfeed her new infant. Opioids are the mainstay of treatment currently, and, although effective, these drugs have significant adverse effects, including sedation, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce opioid consumption, but also have side effects, and are contra-indicated in a significant number of patients. Therefore there remains considerable scope to improve post-Cesarean analgesia.

It has been shown that severe acute post-operative pain after Cesarean section increases the risk of developing chronic pain and post-partum depression. A recent study showed that up to 18% of women have persistent pain after Cesarean section, and that severe acute post-operative pain is a significant risk factor.

Gabapentin is used widely to treat chronic pain, and has been demonstrated to be effective at treating acute post-operative pain following a variety of surgical procedures, with significant reductions in opioid consumption. Side effects are uncommon; the most likely are dizziness and sedation. Gabapentin does cross the placenta and into breast milk, but there is no evidence of adverse maternal or neonatal effects in women taking gabapentin during pregnancy. Gabapentin has been used successfully to treat pain in neonates.

A recent study at Mount Sinai Hospital compared a single pre-operative dose of 600mg gabapentin versus placebo in women undergoing Cesarean section. Women in the gabapentin group reported significantly improved pain scores on movement up to 48 hours after surgery. Side effects were similar in both groups apart from an increase in somnolence in the gabapentin group.

The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of a single pre-operative oral dose of gabapentin 300mg, versus 600mg and placebo in women undergoing Cesarean section. Our hypothesis is that gabapentin 300mg will result in decreased pain scores similar to gabapentin 600mg, but with reduced side effects. We have designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study which will aim to answer these questions. Aside from the administration of gabapentin one hour prior to surgery, there are no other changes to the standard protocol of anaesthetic care. Women will be followed up for 48 hours after surgery for assessment of pain scores and overall satisfaction. A further follow-up at three months will determine the incidence of chronic pain.

Few studies have examined the incidence of chronic pain following Cesarean section, and none have examined the impact of pre-emptive analgesia using gabapentin on the incidence of chronic pain following Cesarean section. As the rate of Cesarean section continues to increase, and there remain significant problems with current analgesic regimens, the use of gabapentin, a drug with proven effectiveness in post-surgical pain and with limited side effects, has the potential to considerably improve acute and chronic post-Cesarean pain, and lead to a widespread change in clinical practice.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 126
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M9W2S5
      • Mount Sinai Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 46 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years or older
• full term singleton pregnancy
• undergoing elective cesarean delivery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to communicate fluently in English
• Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification of 3 or greater
• Patients with history of epilepsy or chronic pain, or of use of anti-epileptic drugs or neuropathic analgesic drugs
• Patients with a history of opioid or intravenous drug abuse
• Patients with a known allergy or contra-indication to gabapentin, or to any other drugs used in this trial
• Patients who have refused spinal anaesthesia, or those in whom it is contra-indicated
• Patients with known congenital fetal abnormalities
• Patients who have taken antacid medication in the previous 24 hours

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo	Drug: lactose; Single oral dose
Active Comparator: Gabapentin 300mg	Drug: Gabapentin 300mg; Single oral dose of 300mg gabapentin; Other Names: Neurontin; Novo-gabapentin
Active Comparator: Gabapentin 600mg	Drug: Gabapentin 600mg; Single oral dose of 600mg gabapentin; Other Names: Neurontin; Novo-gabapentin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Pain score by visual analogue scale (VAS) on movement at 24 hours postoperatively	24 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Pain at rest and on movement by VAS, and maternal satisfaction at 6, 12, 24 & 48 hours postoperatively	48 hours
Opioid consumption at 6, 12, 24 & 48 hours postoperatively	48 hours
Assessment of sedation, pruritis, nausea, vomiting and dizziness on a 4-point scale (absent, mild, moderate, severe) and document treatment if required	48 hours
Time to first maternal request for supplemental analgesia	48 hours
Presence of pain 3 months postoperatively	3 months
Neonatal information: Apgar scores, arterial cord blood gases, need for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission	48 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): March 29, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 23, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2011
• Last Verified: February 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cesarean section; Gabapentin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Postoperative Complications; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Pain, Postoperative; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anticonvulsants; Antimanic Agents; Gabapentin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 10-01