Preoperative Pain Control in Liver Surgery Patients

A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Whether Pre-operative Pregabalin 150 mg Will Improve Pain Control in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Partial Hepatectomy

Pregabalin 150mg or placebo are administered 1 hour preoperatively in patients undergoing partial hepatectomy. Postoperatively, patients receive morphine as rescue analgesic. Morphine consumption in the first 48 hours is documented. Postoperative pain is measured by the visual analogue scale (VAS) score.

Methods: In this Randomized Controlled Trial, patients undergoing partial hepatectomy will be administered a single pre-operative dose of Pregabalin or a placebo. Primary endpoints are as follows:

• Post-operative analgesic requirements
• Post-operative VAS scale (rated 0-10)
• Complications
• Post-operative antiemetic requirement
• Length of stay

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients undergoing partial hepatectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

• contraindication against pregabalin
• creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl
• GGT >165, AST >105, ALT >135
• peptic Ulcus
• haemorrhagic diathesis
• angina pectoris, myocardial infarction
• stroke
• bronchial asthma
• opioid abuse