A comparative study of oral pregabalin and oral gabapentin in the attenuation of hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and intubation

Background: Laryngoscopy and intubation is a noxious stimulus, which can provoke many untoward responses, particularly in the cardiovascular system in the form of hypertension, tachycardia, and dysrhythmia, which can be detrimental in cardiovascular compromised patients. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of preoperative oral pregabalin and gabapentin in attenuating hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty adult patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly allocated by computer-generated randomization into three groups of forty patients each to receive preoperatively - Group C - vitamin capsules, Group G - gabapentin 800 mg, and Group P - pregabalin 150 mg, 90 min before the scheduled surgery. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded at baseline, 1, 5, 10, and 15 min after intubation. Results: The increase in HR response to laryngoscopy and intubation was minimized by both gabapentin and pregabalin when compared with the control group (P < 0.05) at baseline and 1 min; however, there was no statistically significant difference between the two study groups (P > 0.05). There was statistically significant reduction in SBP, DBP, and MAP at 1 min with P = 0.026, 0.014, and 0.001 and at 5 min with P = 0.002, 0.007, and <0.001, respectively, in gabapentin group. In pregabalin group, there was a reduction in SBP, DBP, and MAP at 1 min following intubation with P < 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001 and at 5 min with P = 0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively. Conclusion: Oral pregabalin and gabapentin in the present study attenuates hemodynamic responses to laryngoscopy and intubation. There was a significant reduction in SBP, DBP, and MAP, but not the tachycardia.