[Locally administered ropivacaine vs. standard analgesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

It is unknown which analgesic modality gives better results after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine for local use against that of intravenous dipyrone in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

A non-inferiority randomized clinical trial. Fifty patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included into two separate groups.

0.75 % ropivacaine infiltrated at the trocar insertion sites and in the gallbladder fossa compared with intravenous dipyrone.

The primary outcome was pain, which was assessed using the visual analog scale during the first 24 hours. Secondary outcomes were the presence of adverse effects, and the need for analgesic rescue with tramadol.

The visual analog scale average for pain at the conclusion of the surgery was 3.8 in the ropivacaine vs. 3.56 in the dipyrone groups, while at 6, 12 and 24 hours the values were 2.64, 1.92 and 1.28, respectively, for ropivacaine versus 2.6, 1.88 and 1.2, respectively, for dipyrone. No adverse effects were observed in either group, and the two groups exhibited similar needs for analgesic rescue with tramadol.

Infiltration of 0.75 % ropivacaine at the trocar insertion sites and the gallbladder exhibits analgesia similar to IV dipyrone during the first 24 hours post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy without adverse effects.