Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and postoperative pain: is it affected by intra-abdominal pressure?

Intra-abdominal pressure created during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is accepted as a factor for postoperative pain. In this prospective, randomized, clinical study, the goal is to determine the effects of different intra-abdominal pressure values on visceral type pain.

Sixty women who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in this study. Low-pressure (8 mm Hg), standard-pressure (SP: 12 mm Hg), and high-pressure (HP: 14 mm Hg) groups were designed for the study. The statistical analysis included mean age, weight, analgesic consumption, postoperative pain assessed by the Numeric Scale, duration of anesthesia, and operation.

No statistically significant difference was found between the groups comparing age, weight, analgesic consumption, and Numeric Scale values. In terms of duration of anesthesia, statistically significant difference was found between the groups low-pressure and HP and SP and HP, and statistically significant difference was found regarding operative duration between the groups SP and HP. There was no difference between the others groups.

We think that intra-abdominal pressure has no effect on postoperative visceral pain, but has effect on duration of anesthesia and operation.