Anesthesiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Analgesic Effect of Perioperative Escitalopram in High Pain Catastrophizing Patients after Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.
Sufficient pain treatment remains a challenge after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), especially in high pain catastrophizing patients. Serotonergic signaling may be involved in pain processing, but the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on well-defined postoperative pain has not previously been investigated. The authors hypothesized that perioperative escitalopram would reduce pain after TKA in high pain catastrophizing patients. ⋯ Escitalopram did not reduce pain upon ambulation 24 h after TKA in high pain catastrophizing patients. Future studies on optimal timing, dose, and duration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment might be warranted.