Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine as Post-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Analgesia

To assess the efficacy of large volumes of diluted intraperitoneal bupivacaine in post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy analgesia.

A randomised controlled trial.

Department of General Surgery, Nishtar Hospital, Multan, from August 2018 to June, 2019.

Two equal groups with 55 patients each were formed. Normal saline 500 ml in group A, and mixture of 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine in 480 ml normal saline in group B, was used to irrigate peritoneal cavity. Final outcome of the study was the comparison of pain-free duration. Postoperatively, numerical rating scale (NRS) score at various intervals and total analgesics requirement within 24 hours after the procedure were included in the secondary outcomes. Student's t-test was applied on continuous data and Pearson's Chi-square test on nominal variables. P >0.05 was considered of no statistical significance.

Both groups were comparable for age, weight, gender, duration of surgery. Postoperative analgesia duration was 0.99 ± 0.51 hours in group A and 16.53 ±2.65 hours in group-B (p<0.001). On average, 124.80 ±26.68 mg and 31.00 ±14.98 mg tramadol was given to group A and B patients, respectively (p<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in NRS score at 30 minutes, 1, 3, 6 and 12 hours postoperatively (p<0.05). NRS score at ETT extubation and at 24 hours was statistically not different (p >0.05).

Large volume of diluted bupivacaine when injected intraperitoneally during laparoscopic cholecystectomy provides prolonged time pain relief.