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Study to determine the effect of oral Pregabalin premedication on haemodynamic response to laryngoscopy, intubation and carbon dioxide insufflation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: The process of laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is usually associated with exaggerated haemodynamic response. In extreme cases this response may result in myocardial ischaemia, cardiac failure, increase in intracranial pressure and intracranial haemorrhage. Hence our prospective randomized double blinded placebo control study was designed to observe the effect of pregabalin in attenuating this haemodynamic response.


Introduction
In patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia, endotracheal intubation is the gold standard for securing the airway. However, the procedure may cause activation of the sympathetic nervous system and release of catecholamines, resulting in a haemodynamic response that precipitates an increase in Heart Rate (HR) and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP). This response does not cause problems in most patients; however, in high-risk patient groups, such as those with preexisting cardiovascular disease, it may increase the risk of myocardial ischaemia, myocardial infarction and mortality. [1][2][3] Significant variations in haemodynamics will occur if carboperitoneum is created with an intraabdominal pressure (IAP) higher than 10 mmHg which is characterized by decrease in cardiac output, increase in arterial pressures and increase in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances. Sudden stretching of peritoneum may also result in reflex increase of vagal tone leading to bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmia and asystole. 4 In the head up position given for laparoscopic cholecystectomy there will be a reduction in venous return which results in decrease in cardiac output and MAP and it further complicates the haemodynamic changes by carboperitoneum.
Haemodynamic changes to laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation and carboperitoneum can be deleterious to patients with compromised cardiac function. [5][6] Hence, these haemodynamic changes should be attenuated especially in high risk patients. Attenuation of circulatory response to these stimuli is usually done by several methods and medications. However, the armamentarium used for this purpose is ever expanding and all of them have certain limitations and side effects and the lookout for an ideal drug with minimum adverse effects and maximum benefit is of utmost importance.
Pregabalin is a structural derivative of inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The mechanism of action is binding to α2δ subunit of voltage gated calcium channels, reducing calcium influx there by reducing neuronal excitability in central nervous system. There will be reduction in release of neurotransmitters like glutamate, noradrenaline, serotonin, dopamine, substance-p. 7 Pregabalin is absorbed rapidly, with peak plasma concentration occurring within one hour of administration and mean half-life of 6.3 hours. Dose response relationship calculated allow pregabalin 150mg/day dose with no need for titration. This drug finds its application as anticonvulsant, analgesic, anxiolytic, treatment of neuropathic pain, partial seizures and fibromyalgia. The adverse effects of pregabalin are transient with somnolence and dizziness being most common. 8 Hence the current double blind randomized controlled study was carried out to study the effect of pregabalin in attenuating the haemodynamic pressor response to laryngoscopy, intubation and carboperitoneum and to study the sedation score in the two groups.

Methodology
The present study was started after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. Patients between 18 to 65 years, ASA PS I and II, belonging to either gender, undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy requiring general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation were included in the study. Patients with known or suspected allergy to pregabalin, cognitive impairment, history of dizziness, currently using sedatives or anti convulsants, preoperative anticipated difficult air way, laryngoscopy duration of >20 seconds or more than one attempt were excluded.
Sample Size: In order to estimate the clinically meaningful reduction of HR and MAP by 10-20% from the baseline in the intervention group compared to the control group with a level of significance as 5% for 80% power of study we needed to study 45 patients in each group. In addition to this, considering 10% drop out rate we decided to recruit 50 eligible patients in each group.
Patients were evaluated preoperatively, and methodology was discussed with those who satisfied the inclusion criteria. Written informed consent was obtained from those patients. All patients were advised standard nil per oral (NPO) orders, premedicated with tablet pantoprazole 40mg and metoclopramide 10mg on the day of surgery. Patients were randomly assigned into two groups using computer generated random sequence allocation. Concealment was ensured using sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelope. An anaesthesiologist who was not a part of data collection premedicated the patient with oral pregabalin 150mg or similarly looking B-complex 60minutes before the scheduled surgery with onetwo sips of water. Patient's vital signs and sedation score was monitored in the pre-operative holding area.
Patient was shifted to operation theatre after confirming adequate NPO status. Multipara monitor consisting of pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), 5 lead ECG were attached, and baseline readings were noted. IV fluids Ringer`s lactate (RL)/normal saline (NS) was started at 2ml/kg/hr. Preoxygenation with 100% oxygen, premedicated with i.v. fentanyl 2µg/kg. Induction of anaesthesia using i.v. propofol 2-3mg/kg. Neuromuscular blockade with i.v. vecuronium 0.1mg/kg, and plane of anaesthesia deepened with isoflurane1.5-2%. Oro tracheal intubation was performed after 3minutes by an experienced anaesthesiologist with minimum duration of laryngoscopy. Maintenance of anaesthesia was done with isoflurane 1-1.2 MAC, 66% N2O, and 33% O2. Oro gastric tube was inserted five minutes after intubation. The patients were mechanically ventilated to maintain normocapnia. Intraoperatively i.v. paracetamol 15mg/kg was given to all patients. The abdomen was inflated with CO2 and IAP was maintained at or below 15mm Hg throughout the procedure. Patient was positioned in anti-trendelenburg position and rotated towards left side to facilitate the exposure of gall bladder.
Patients were monitored for intraoperative complications such as hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia and hypercapnia and treated accordingly. At the end of surgery oral suction was performed and residual neuromuscular blockade was antagonized with i.v. neostigmine 0.05mg/ kg and glycopyrrolate 0.01 mg/ kg. Extubation was performed once patient began breathing spontaneously, following verbal commands, intact gag reflex, ability to generate tidal volumes of 6ml/kg body weight and no fade detected with a DBS stimulus at 40mA using PNS Observations: 1. Heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure, (systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures) noted at the following intervals.  Base line values before premedicating the patient with study drug  60minutes after premedication of the patient  Prior to the induction of anaesthesia in operating room  After laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation  Every 1 minute for next 5minutes  Before carboperitoneum  Immediately after carboperitoneum (P0)  5,10,15,30 minutes after carboperitoneum  15minutes following extubation Sedation score was calculated at the following timings using Ramsay sedation scale A.
Preoperative before premedication B.
1 hour after administration of study drug C.

Data analysis
The results were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21 in windows 7 in consultation with a statistician. Patient baseline haemodynamic parameters were analyzed using independent sample t test and p value <0.00625 is considered as statistically significant. The inter group and intra group analysis was done using repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA). P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the age and gender distribution between the two groups. p value was calculated using independent sample t test. All the parameters were statistically comparable between two groups Figure 1: Comparison of Mean HR at 5 time points between two groups T1-Baseline value before premedication, T 2following laryngoscopy and intubation, T 3 -1minute following intubation, T 4 -5 minutes after carboperitoneum, T 5 -30 minutes after carboperitoneum T1-Baseline value before premedication, T2following laryngoscopy and intubation, T3-1minute following intubation, T4-5 minutes after carboperitoneum, T5-30 minutes after carboperitoneum

Results
The statistical analysis was done only for four-time points with maximum haemodynamic variations as compared with base line. There was an increase in all the haemodynamic parameters immediately following laryngoscopy and intubation and in the next minute in both the groups. The maximum percentage change in HR in pregabalin group was +14% at 1-minute following intubation which was clinically not significant (<20%) compared to +33% in placebo group at same timepoint which was clinically significant. Similarly, the maximum percentage change in MAP in pregabalin group was +8% at immediately following intubation which was clinically not significant (<20%) compared to +28% in placebo group at 1-minute following intubation which was clinically significant. Again at 5 minutes following carboperitoneum the percentage change in HR and MAP was +4% and +0.8% in pregabalin group which were clinically not significant where as it was +24% and +26% in placebo group. The inter group analysis by repeated measures of ANOVA showed p value <0.05 which was statistically significant.  Baseline value before premedication, T2following laryngoscopy and intubation, T3-1minute following intubation, T4-5minutes after  carboperitoneum, T5-30minutes after carboperitoneum The score of three or four was considered adequate sedation. None of the patients had a score of 1, 5 or 6. All the patients in pregabalin group had score 3 or 4 at 15minutes following extubation, whereas only 20 patients in placebo group had a score of 3. None of the patients in both the groups have excessive sedation score of 5 or 6. The data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test and p value was <0.05 which was statistically significant.

Discussion
In the present study all the haemodynamic parameters following laryngoscopy, intubation and carboperitoneum were well within permissible limits in the patients in pregabalin group compared to placebo group.
Mikawa K et al 9 found attenuation of hypertension but not tachycardia with intravenous diltiazem administered 1min prior to laryngoscopy. Wilson I et al 10 had given 1.5mg/kg of i.v. lignocaine to three groups of patients at 2min, 3min, 4min before intubation and observed no effect on HR but significant decrease in MAP compared to placebo. Fassoulaki A et al 11 found gabapentin premedication attenuated pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation with no effect on HR. Jee D et al 12 reported the attenuation of increased arterial pressure following laparoscopic cholecystectomy by i.v. magnesium sulphate. Menigaux C et al 13 observed esmolol attenuating pressor response to laryngoscopy. In the study the authors found that esmolol was more effective in attenuating tachycardia than arterial pressures.
Pregabalin is also a gabapentenoid compound with similar mechanism of action as gabapentin with added advantages such as higher potency, stronger binding affinity to receptor and absorption hence a linear pharmacokinetic profile, 90% bioavailability, in a dose of 150-600mg/day. 8 On the basis of these advantages of pregabalin over gabapentin we decided to study the effect of pregabalin on haemodynamic responses.
In order to ensure uniformity with regard to nature of surgery and its duration, position of patient, it was decided to observe the effect of pregabalin on haemodynamic response following carboperitoneum. The half-life of pregabalin is 6 hours, hence effects of pregabalin would very well persist beyond the average duration of laparoscopic cholecystectomy around 90-120 minutes.
In our study we found an attenuation of HR, SBP, DBP, and MAP in pregabalin group patients compared to placebo group. The maximum percentage increase in HR in placebo group was 33% where as it was only 14% in pregabalin group and the maximum percentage increase in MAP in placebo group was 28% were as it was only 8% in pregabalin group showing a clinically significant difference between the two groups. We also observed at 5minutes following carboperitoneum clinically significant increase in haemodynamic parameters in placebo group (HR+24%, MAP+26%) compared to pregabalin group (HR+4%, MAP+0.8%). The results in our study have shown that patients receiving pregabalin are having attenuation response to haemodynamic parameters during laryngoscopy, intubation and laparoscopy.
The reason for this attenuation response of pregabalin and even gabapentin is not known. Gabapentinoids acts by decreasing the excitatory neurotransmitters including noradrenaline and this might be responsible for attenuation of haemodynamics. 7,8 Ali et al 14 demonstrated that preoperative premedication with oral gabapentin attenuated the pressor response to tracheal intubation in adults with no effect on basal plasma catecholamine concentration, on the contrary there was an increase in noradrenaline levels. There is a need for further studies to measure catecholamine levels and compare them at respective time points between the intervention and placebo groups to ascertain the attenuation of pressor response by pregabalin.
The sedation levels of the patients were assessed using Ramsay sedation scale pre and post operatively. At 1 hour after premedication 40 patients in pregabalin group had a score of 3 which is acceptable sedation whereas none of the patients in placebo group had a score of 3. None of the patients in both the groups had excessive sedation.
Meena R et al 15 conducted a study on attenuation of cardiovascular response during laryngoscopy and intubation using different doses of oral pregabalin in 150mg and 300mg in controlled hypertensive patients. Oral pregabalin in a dose of 300mg was a better premedicant compared to 150mg as it not only blunted the arterial pressor response to laryngoscopy and intubation, but also provided anxiolysis with reduction of intra-operative anaesthetic drug requirement and maintained haemodynamic stability without significant adverse effects. Waikar C et al 16 compared oral gabapentin, pregabalin, and clonidine as premedication for anxiolysis, sedation, and attenuation of pressor response to endotracheal intubation. They concluded that for attenuation of pressure response for orotracheal intubation, pregabalin was better than gabapentin and clonidine. However, clonidine was better for attenuation of tachycardia response. All the drugs were equally efficacious anxiolytics.
The results in our study are in agreement with the study conducted by Bhawna R et al 17 who found adequate sedation, analgesia, haemodynamic stability in patients premedicated with pregabalin 150mg. Similarly, Sundar et al 18 found good attenuation response with pregabalin 150mg to laryngoscopy and intubation in patients undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass grafting.
None of the patients in our study encountered any adverse effects of pregabalin like dizziness, somnolence, and blurred vision. No patient in our study encountered excessive sedation leading to respiratory depression and desaturation.

Conclusion
Oral pregabalin in a dose of 150mg, one hour prior to surgery is a safe and effective premedicant in attenuating pressor response among adult patients requiring laryngoscopy, intubation and laparoscopy. It also produces good sedation without prolongation of recovery time and has no adverse effects.