Preemptive Multimodal Pain Regimen Reduces Opioid Analgesia for Patients Undergoing Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES Minimally invasive surgical techniques have many benefits, including reduced postoperative pain. Despite this, most patients require opioid analgesia, which can have significant side effects and toxicity. We report the first urologic study using multimodal analgesia with pregabalin, a gabapentinoid. METHODS The present retrospective study included 60 patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Of the 60 patients, 30 received multimodal treatment with pregabalin 150 mg, acetaminophen 975 mg, and celecoxib 400 mg orally 2 hours before the start of the procedure and continued postoperatively. These patients were compared with 30 consecutive previous patients, who had received a standard postoperative analgesic regimen with intravenous ketorolac 15 mg every 6 hours with oxycodone 5 mg and acetaminophen 325 mg, 1 to 2 tablets, every 4 hours as needed for pain. RESULTS The patients in the multimodal treatment group had a significantly reduced intraoperative opioid requirement, as measured by the mean morphine equivalent dose administered (38.4 +/- 2.73 mg vs 49.1 +/- 2.65 mg; P < .01). The mean postoperative opioid use was also significantly reduced (10.7 +/- 2.82 mg vs 26.2 +/- 6.56 mg; P < .034), as was the mean total morphine equivalent dose administered (49.1 +/- 2.7 mg vs 75.3 +/- 4.6 mg; P < .001). The operative time, estimated operative blood loss, antiemetic use, postoperative creatinine and hemoglobin levels, and length of stay were similar in the 2 groups. No operative or treatment complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS The present retrospective review has indicated that a multimodal analgesic approach with pregabalin and celecoxib administered preoperatively decreases intraoperative and postoperative opioid use in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. UROLOGY 76: 1122-1124, 2010. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc.