The primary objective of this study is to determine if the peri and post operative use of gabapentin in children reduces the need for narcotics after thoracic surgery.
We hypothesize that patients who are given gabapentin will need fewer morphine equivalents postoperatively than those who were not given gabapentin
This study is a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized study to explore the effects of gabapentin peri and post operatively. Physician and families will be blinded to the treatment.
60 subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either:
- Gabapentin treatment group
- Placebo - control group
We aim to understand the impact that gabapentin use peri and post operatively has on:
- opioid use based of IV morphine
- pain scores
- opioid related complications such as withdrawal
- effects on the level of sedation
- Possible adverse effects associated with use of gabapentin
- Time to extubating
The duration of an individual subject's participation in the study will be 7 days or until the patient is discharged from UC Davis Hospital, whichever occurs first.
