Comparison of Effect of Pre-Emtive use of Oral Flupirtine and Oral Pregabalin for Post Operative Analgesia in Abdominal Hysterectomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Uncontrolled postoperative pain, characteristic to abdominal hysterectomy, results in delaying postoperative recovery and mobilisation. Hence we undertook a prospective randomized trial to analyze and compare the role of flupirtine and pregabaline as a preemptive analgesic. MATERIAL AND METHODS After receiving approval from ethical committee, 64 cases were allocated to two groups using sealed envelope method to receive capsule flupirtine (200 mg) or pregabaline (150 mg) orally, 1.5 hrs. before the abdominal hysterectomy surgery. Time to first rescue analgesia, assessment of postoperative pain in terms of visual analogue score was primary outcome with presence of any side effect as secondary outcome. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software, chi-square test, unpaired t test. RESULTS Duration of analgesia was found to be significantly more in flupirtine group 6hrs. postoperatively as compared to pregabaline group, with no significant difference in demographics, onset of regional anaesthesia (motor and sensory block) and duration of sensory and motor block in both groups. Time to first rescue analgesia was prolonged in the flupirtine group. Total analgesic requirement was more in pregabalin group. CONCLUSIONS Flupirtine is more acceptable as preemptive analgesic in providing adequate pain relief during postoperative period in abdominal hysterectomy surgery and it lacks the typical side effects of continued administration. LIMITATION This study was of small group and single dose drug administration.