Gabapentin as an Adjunct to Paracervical Block for Perioperative Pain Management

Project Summary Justification for the project One half of all pregnancies among American women are unintended, with nearly 4 in 10 ending in pregnancy termination by abortion. Elective abortions are among the most common outpatient surgical procedure, with an estimated 46 million performed worldwide annually. The management of pain is critical to patient care throughout the abortion experience since the vast majority of women will experience pain with the procedure. Patients are most affected by pain during paracervical block, cervical dilation, suction aspiration, and post operatively with uterine cramping. Innovation in pain control and reduction of anxiety, nausea and vomiting using a low cost, well-tolerated intervention could impact thousands of women each year. Proposed research This is a randomized controlled trial of gabapentin 600 mg compared to placebo given 1-2 hours preoperatively in conjunction with perioperative paracervical block for surgical abortion. The researchers hypothesize that adding gabapentin to local anesthesia will reduce perioperative and postoperative pain associated with surgical abortion. Additionally, the researchers hypothesize that gabapentin will reduce nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and consumption of pain medication. New features Gabapentin as an adjunct o pain management has proven beneficial in gynecological surgery. Its use in similar surgical settings as an adjunct to pain management regiments has proven to be beneficial. It is generally well tolerated, inexpensive, has minimal side effects, and few contraindications. Problems anticipated The high volume at the study clinic will benefit recruitment efforts, however, as the coordination of this study may potentially disrupt clinic flow there will be limits on daily recruitment. Postoperative follow-up may be challenging, thus to reduce the impact of loss to follow-up, most of the outcomes are measured on the same day as the procedure. Further, multiple contact approaches will be employed and a second incentive offered after completion of the postoperative assessment.