Cardiothoracic & vascular anesthesia
Gabapentin for Postoperative Analgesia in Cardiac Surgery via Sternotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors' conclusion
Gabapentin provided a small, isolated reduction in early cough-elicited pain but not a clinically meaningful reduction in opioid consumption or overall analgesic benefit after cardiac surgery via sternotomy.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing cardiac surgery via sternotomy
- Participants
- 751 adults · 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Perioperative gabapentin vs placebo
- Outcome
- Postoperative pain
- Follow-up
- 24 hours
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models, GRADE assessment, Certainty of evidence low to very low (GRADE)
- Random-effects models
- GRADE assessment
- Certainty of evidence low to very low (GRADE)
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Gabapentin vs PlaceboMD (95% CI)P value
Rest pain
−0.69(−1.38 to 0.00)
P = 0.0507Cough-elicited pain
−0.34(−0.71 to 0.04)
P = 0.079Further pooled results
| Outcome | SMD (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid consumption · 24 hours | −1.06 (−2.02 to −0.11) | P = 0.0295 | |
| −3−2−101Difference (linear scale) |
Pain at other time points
- No significant differences
Safety
Adverse events (sedation, nausea, vomiting, AF)
- No significant differences
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Gabapentin for Postoperative Analgesia in Cardiac Surgery via Sternotomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 1 July 2026. doi:10.
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