Background:. We conducted this study to find whether preoperative pregabalin has any effect in postoperative analgesic requirement in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy under spinal anaesthesia.

Methods :Randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 135 patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy under spinal anaesthesia, divided in three groups of 45 patients each - Group 0 (PO) - Control group, Group 1 (P75) received 75 mg pregabalin and Group 2 (P150) received 150 mg pregabalin one hour before surgery. Pre-operative, Ramsay sedation scale was noted and post-operative VAS for pain at rest and on cough at 30 minutes, 1hr, 2 hrs, 12 hrs and 24 hrs post operatively. Time for requirement of rescue analgesics on post-operative day one was assessed. Quantitative parameters were estimated as mean, median, range, interquartile range. Differences in median values between three groups were tested for statistical significance using “kruskall wallis analysis of variance’. Incidence of side effects in the three groups was estimated as percentage, with 95% confidence interval. Differences in percentages amongst three groups was tested through “chi square” test of significance

Results: There was significant reduction in post-operative pain in group 2 with respect to other groups. Rescue analgesic consumption was least in 150 mg group and time for first rescue analgesic was also longest. More adverse effects were seen in 150 mg group

Conclusion: Oral Pregabalin prolongs duration of the neuraxial block, helps in immediate postoperative analgesia and further reduction of other parenteral analgesics.