Antiemetic Effect of Pregabalin in Postbariatric Breast Reconstructions: Randomized, Double-blind Study

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications after general anesthesia. Pregabalin may reduce its incidence. The primary study outcome was to evaluate the antiemetic effect of pregabalin within the first 24 hours postoperatively.

This randomized, double-blind study included 52 female patients aged between 18 and 64 years, classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I or II, who underwent postbariatric breast reconstruction under general anesthesia. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. The control group received a placebo, and the pregabalin group received 75 mg of pregabalin 2 hours before surgery and another 75 mg 12 hours later. The primary outcome evaluated was the incidence of PONV during the first 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were pain during the first 24 hours, the opioid-sparing effect of pregabalin, the need for rescue doses of antiemetic or analgesic drugs within the first 24 hours, the development of chronic postoperative pain, and adverse events in the first 24 hours.

The groups were homogeneous in clinical and treatment variables. There was no significant difference in the incidence of nausea (P = 0.78) and vomiting (P = 1.00) over time between the groups. There was no significant difference between groups in the reduction of postoperative pain, in the need for rescue antiemetic and analgesic dose, or in the incidence of chronic pain and adverse events.

The administration of pregabalin during the first 24 hours after surgery did not significantly reduce PONV in patients undergoing postbariatric breast reconstruction under general anesthesia.