Methods: Between August 2009 and December 2009 40 patients (34 males, 6 females; mean age 49.5±13.8 years; range 18 to 65 years) who were scheduled for elective thoracotomy in our clinic were included in this prospective, randomized, placebocontrolled, single-blind study. The patients were divided into two groups each containing 20 patients. One hour before surgery, group 1 and group 2 received 150 mg oral pregabalin and oral placebo, respectively. Thoracic epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) was administered in all patients for postoperative pain management. Pain scores, epidural opioid consumption and side effects were recorded for postoperative 72 hours. The patients were also assessed with respect to the incidence and severity of chronic postthoracotomy pain, the presence of allodynia-like pain and the limitation of daily life at three and six months.

Results: Pain scores were significantly lower in group 1, compared to group 2 before PCA, at 1, 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours (p<0.05). In group 1, epidural opioid consumption was significantly lower than group 2 between 0 and 24 hours, and between 48 and 72 hours (p<0.05). The incidence and severity of chronic postthoracotomy pain, and the limitation of daily life were statistically significantly lower in group 1 compared to group 2 at three months (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The present study showed that single oral preoperative dose of 150 mg pregabalin, which was used for postthoracotomy pain control, alleviated pain scores and epidural opioid consumption in early period. Pregabalin also reduced the incidence and the severity of chronic postthoracotomy pain at three months.