Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population .
Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain , few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified .
To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions , an IMMPACT meeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain .
We present general design considerations for prevention trials in population s that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain .
Pregabalin has an opioid-sparing effect in elderly patients after cardiac surgery: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND In this prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled study , we investigated the effect of pregabalin on oxycodone consumption , postoperative confusion , and pain in elderly cardiac surgery patients . METHODS Seventy patients , aged ≥75 yr , were r and omized to receive either 150 mg of pregabalin before operation and 75 mg of pregabalin twice daily for 5 postoperative days or placebo . Pain intensity was measured with the Verbal Rating Scale ( VRS ) . When pain intensity was ≥2 on the VRS , patients received oxycodone either i.v . ( 0.05 mg kg(-1 ) ) or orally ( 0.10 - 0.15 mg kg(-1 ) ) . Postoperative confusion was measured with the Confusion Assessment Method for the intensive care unit ( CAM-ICU ) . Postoperative pain was assessed by a telephone interview 1 and 3 months after operation . RESULTS Cumulative consumption of parenteral oxycodone  during 16 h after extubation was reduced by 44 % and total oxycodone consumption from extubation to the end of the fifth postoperative day was reduced by 48 % in the pregabalin  group . Time to extubation was 138 min shorter and CAM-ICU scores were significantly lower on the first postoperative day in the placebo group , although there was no significant difference with respect to the Mini-Mental State Examination or the Richmond Agitation Sedation Score . The incidence of pain during movement was significantly lower in the pregabalin group at 3 months postoperative . CONCLUSIONS The administration of pregabalin  reduced postoperative opioid consumption after cardiac surgery reduced the incidence of confusion on the first postoperative day and increased time to extubation when compared with placebo . Three months after operation , patients in the pregabalin group experienced less pain during movement
Such interventions would have the potential to reduce the prevalence of chronic pain in the population .
Although certain risk factors can identify individuals who are most likely to develop chronic pain , few interventions to prevent chronic pain have been identified .
To facilitate the identification of preventive interventions , an IMMPACT meeting was convened to discuss research design considerations for clinical trials investigating the prevention of chronic pain .
We present general design considerations for prevention trials in population s that are at relatively high risk for developing chronic pain .