Randomized controlled trial of pregabalin for analgesia after surgical treatment of intervertebral disc disease in dogs

Schmierer PA, Tuensmeyer J, Tipold A, Hartnack-Wilhelm S, Lesczuk P, Kaestner SBR (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of perioperative pregabalin on pain behavior in dogs after intervertebral disc surgery. Study design: Prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial with a blinded observer. Animals: Forty-six client-owned dogs undergoing intervertebral disc surgery. Methods: Dogs were randomly assigned to two groups, with the placebo group receiving opioids alone and the pregabalin group receiving opioids plus pregabalin. Opioid analgesia consisted of 0.6 mg/kg l-methadone given intravenously at anesthetic induction, followed by 0.2 mg/kg given at 8, 16, and 24 hours after extubation and fentanyl patches applied at the end of surgery. Pregabalin was given orally (4 mg/kg) 1 hour before anesthesia, followed by postoperative treatment three times per day (4 mg/kg) for 5 days. The outcome measures were the treatment-group differences in peri-incisional mechanical sensitivity and Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) assessed during the first 5 postoperative days. Pregabalin serum concentrations were measured after 24, 72, and 120 hours. Results: Pregabalin reduced pain levels in the treatment group by a mean of 2.5 CMPS-SF units (95% confidence interval [CI] = −3.19 to −1.83, P <.001) compared with the control group during the study period. Pregabalin increased the mechanical nociceptive threshold by a mean of 6.89 N per day (95% CI = 1.87-11.92, P <.001) and of 7.52 N per day (95% CI = 2.29-12.77, P <.001) during the study period, depending on location. Mean levels of serum pregabalin were 5.1, 4.71, and 3.68 μg/mL at 24, 72, and 120 hours postoperatively, respectively. Conclusion: Postoperative signs of pain after surgical treatment of intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH) were reduced when dogs received perioperative pregabalin rather than opioids alone. Clinical significance: Perioperative pregabalin reduces postoperative pain after surgical treatment of IVDH.

Involved external institutions

University of Zurich / Universität Zürich (UZH)

Switzerland (CH) Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (TiHo)

Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Schmierer, P.A., Tuensmeyer, J., Tipold, A., Hartnack-Wilhelm, S., Lesczuk, P., & Kaestner, S.B.R. (2020). Randomized controlled trial of pregabalin for analgesia after surgical treatment of intervertebral disc disease in dogs. Veterinary Surgery. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13411

MLA:

Schmierer, Philipp A., et al. "Randomized controlled trial of pregabalin for analgesia after surgical treatment of intervertebral disc disease in dogs." Veterinary Surgery (2020).

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