Presurgery Levetiracetam

Can the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam (LEV) work as a pre-emptive analgesic for those undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy? How would LEV impact general anesthesia during surgery and use of fentanyl postsurgery? Researchers explored these questions and published findings in Cureus. 60 minutes presurgery, 42 patients received either 500 mg of LEV or placebo. Findings in the LEV group include:

• Lower pain scores (assessed via a visual analogue scale)
• Less fentanyl use in the 24 hours postsurgery
• Comparable side effects to the placebo group

The study concluded, “we found that preoperative administration of LEV 500 mg was effective in lowering postoperative fentanyl consumption in 24 hours in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In addition, the side effects were not significant in either group. We, therefore, recommend that a single dose of LEV 500 mg before elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces pain and consumption of fentanyl in postoperative period.”

 

Read the journal article.

Other Categories:

• fentanyl

• Laparoscopic surgery/laparoscopy

• Minimally invasive surgery

• pain management

• Surgery