[size=20px]Following a total abdominal colectomy for ulcerative colitis, the pain service recommends that the patient receive postoperative gabapentin instead of a morphine patient controlled analgesia.

 

Which of the following statements about gabapentin is true?

 

A respiratory suppression is a major side effect

 

B it is absorbed in the ileum

 

C it is adminsered in a continuous infusion

 

D it can be used with ketorolac[/size]

D

D

correct

 

In the Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, gabapentin is given orally as a preoperative loading dose and continued postoperatively. Along with parenteral ketorolac, gabapentin is used with acetaminophen orally to treat perioperative pain with narcotics used as needed for break through. This minimizes the ileus and postoperative constipation problems than can occur with parenteral morphine doses.