A Randomized Controlled Trial for Abdominal Binder Use after Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Gynecologic Surgery

Background:

• Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery offers cosmetic and potential recovery benefits.
• Postoperative pain management remains a critical aspect of patient recovery after LESS procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of abdominal binders in alleviating postoperative pain following LESS surgery.
• To compare pain levels between patients who used an abdominal binder and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial (Level 1 evidence) was conducted.
• Ninety patients undergoing LESS surgery were randomized: 60 received an abdominal binder, and 30 served as the control group.
• Pain was assessed using a 10-point verbal analog scale over 21 days postoperatively.

Main Results:

• While overall pain decreased significantly over time (p < .001), binder use showed a significant difference in pain scores after adjusting for time (p = .04).
• Patients without binders reported an average of 1.13 points higher pain scores in the first week compared to those using binders.
• No significant difference in the association between time and overall pain score was observed with binder use (p = .37).

Conclusions:

• Abdominal binder use may be beneficial for reducing early postoperative pain after LESS surgery.
• These findings suggest potential for improved patient comfort and recovery in the initial postoperative period.
• The study provides feasibility data for future research on abdominal binder interventions in minimally invasive surgery.