Efficacy and Safety of Gabapentin on Postoperative Pain Management After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

PurposeExamine the efficacy and safety of perioperative gabapentin in bariatric surgical patients. DesignSystematic Review and Meta-analysis. MethodsAn exhaustive search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and other gray literature. Only randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of gabapentin in bariatric surgery were included. Risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) were used to estimate outcomes with suitable effect models. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Risk of Bias and GRADE system. FindingsFour trials consisting of 283 patients were analyzed. The use of gabapentin significantly lowered the cumulative pain score in the first 24 hours after surgery by an average of 1.04 (MD, –1.04; 95% CI, –1.45 to –0.63; P < .00001). Gabapentin also reduced the overall morphine equivalent consumption by 7.89 mg (MD, –7.89; 95% CI, –13.56 to –2.2; P = .006). However, gabapentin did not affect the incidence of PONV (RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.38-1.00; P = .05), somnolence (RR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.57-2.73; P = .57), dizziness (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.40-2.54; P = .99), and headache (RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.25-2.30; P = .62). Substantial heterogeneity, imprecision of the effect size, and potential publication bias were limitations of this review. ConclusionsThe use of gabapentin is effective in the management of postoperative pain in bariatric surgery. However, there is limited data regarding the opioid-sparing effect and adverse effect profiles of gabapentin in the bariatric surgical population.