Study of the Effect of the Drug Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain and Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the drug gabapentin (Neurontin®) for its ability to reduce postoperative pain, the need for morphine-like pain medication, and the severity and frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery patients.
ConditionObesity, Morbid
Postoperative Pain
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
InterventionDrug: Gabapentin
Drug: Placebo
Drug: Gabapentin
PhaseN/A
SponsorMedical University of South Carolina
Responsible PartyMedical University of South Carolina
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT00886236
First ReceivedApril 21, 2009
Last UpdatedApril 21, 2009
Last verifiedApril 2009

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateApril 21, 2009
Last Updated DateApril 21, 2009
Start DateJuly 2008
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2009
Current Primary Outcome Measures
  • Effect of preoperative and postoperative administration of gabapentin on postoperative opioid requirement. [Time Frame: 48 hours] [Designated as safety issue: No]
  • Effect of preoperative and postoperative administration of gabapentin on incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. [Time Frame: 48 hours] [Designated as safety issue: No]
Current Secondary Outcome MeasuresEffective of preoperative and postoperative Gabapentin on the incidence of respiratory depression as evidenced by pulse oximetry data [Time Frame: 48 hours] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleStudy of the Effect of the Drug Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain and Incidence of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
Official TitleThe Effect of Gabapentin on Acute Pain and PONV in Bariatric Surgical Patients
Brief Summary
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the drug gabapentin (Neurontin®) for its
ability to reduce postoperative pain, the need for morphine-like pain medication, and the
severity and frequency of postoperative nausea and vomiting in laparoscopic gastric bypass
surgery patients.
Detailed Description
The occurrence of morbid obesity is at epidemic proportions in the United States.
Laparoscopic gastric bypass is an effective means of safely facilitating patient weight loss
and thereby drastically reducing the prevalence and severity of many future health
complications [1]. However, managing morbidly obese surgical patients poses certain
obstacles for anesthesiologists, including a high incidence of obstructive sleep apnea [2].

Laparoscopic gastric bypass, like all surgical interventions, has associated postoperative
challenges including pain management and prevention/control of postoperative nausea and
vomiting. To assure the highest patient satisfaction, all areas of patient comfort must be
addressed. However, with pain management in morbidly obese patients, caution must be used
when administering opioids, as they can have an increasing effect of respiratory depression
in patients already at risk due to obstructive sleep apnea [3]. Gastric bypass is also
associated with a significant incidence of protracted postoperative nausea and vomiting [4].
Therefore, regimens that address both patient safety and patient comfort are desired.

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an alkylated analog of the inhibitory neurotransmitter
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that has been FDA approved for the treatment of seizures,
headaches fibromyalgia and chronic neuropathic pain due to various etiologies [5]. Many
randomized controlled trials have been performed with perioperative gabapentin [6-10]. The
effect of perioperative administration of gabapentin on postoperative pain and opioid
consumption has been extensively studied and several meta-analyses have been published in
the last several years examining to overall findings of these studies. The general consensus
is that gabapentin has anti-hyperalgesic and opioid-sparing properties and may also reduce
the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting [5, 11-15]. Most research has shown that
gabapentin is beneficial in the treatment of postoperative pain, but some show neither
positive nor negative effects. There has been no evidence that gabapentin is detrimental or
poses any risks to the postoperative patient. However, gabapentin has not been specifically
studied in bariatric surgery. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the
hypothesis that perioperative gabapentin has anti-hyperalgesic and opioid-sparing
properties, thus increase patient comfort and satisfaction by decreasing pain scores and
reducing the adverse effects of opioids, such as postoperative nausea and vomiting.

This is a randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled study, which will be performed in
adult laparoscopic gastric bypass patients coming to surgery for morbid obesity. The major
end-points of analyses are intraoperative and postoperative opioid requirements and the
incidence of nausea and vomiting in the postoperative period.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhaseN/A
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Obesity, Morbid
  • Postoperative Pain
  • Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting
InterventionDrug: Gabapentin
Gabapentin 1200 mg (24 cc) by mouth 1 hour prior to surgery AND Gabapentin 300 mg (6cc) by mouth x 6 doses after surgery (0800PM the evening of surgery, 0800AM postoperative day 1, 0200PM postoperative day 1, 0800PM postoperative day 1, 0800AM postoperative day 2, 1200PM postoperative day 2)
Drug: Placebo
Placebo 1200 mg (24 cc) by mouth 1 hour prior to surgery AND Placebo 300 mg (6cc) by mouth x 6 doses after surgery (0800PM the evening of surgery, 0800AM postoperative day 1, 0200PM postoperative day 1, 0800PM postoperative day 1, 0800AM postoperative day 2, 1200PM postoperative day 2)
Drug: Gabapentin
Gabapentin 1200 mg (24 cc) by mouth 1 hour prior to surgery AND Placebo 300 mg (6cc) by mouth x 6 doses after surgery (0800PM the evening of surgery, 0800AM postoperative day 1, 0200PM postoperative day 1, 0800PM postoperative day 1, 0800AM postoperative day 2, 1200PM postoperative day 2)
Study Arm (s)
  • Active Comparator: 1 Preoperative Gabapentin Liquid
    Preoperative Gabapentin Elixir (1200 mg) AND Postoperative Placebo Elixir (300 mg x 6 doses)
  • Experimental: 2 Preoperative and Postoperative Gabapentin Liquid
    Preoperative Gabapentin Elixir (1200 mg) AND Postoperative Gabapentin Elixir (300 mg x 6 doses)
  • Placebo Comparator: 3 Preoperative and Postoperative Placebo Liquid
    Preoperative Placebo Liquid (1200 mg) AND Postoperative Placebo Elixir (300 mg x 6 doses)

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusEnrolling by invitation
Estimated Enrollment150
Estimated Completion DateDecember 2009
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2009
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery

- Age > 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients under the age of 18 years

- Patients who undergo open gastric bypass

- Patients with a history of chronic pain treated with pregabalin, gabapentin or
opioids

- Patients with a history of chronic renal disease (creatinine > 1.3)

- Patients with a history of bleeding gastric ulcer
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsNot Provided
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT00886236
Other Study ID NumbersHR # 18041 Gaba Bariatric
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeNo
Information Provided ByMedical University of South Carolina
Study SponsorMedical University of South Carolina
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Principal Investigator: Matthew D McEvoy, MD Medical University of South Carolina
Verification DateApril 2009

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425