The Topical Intraperitoneal Anesthesia of 0.5% Bupivacaine Before Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is Effective on the Postoperative Pain Control

Seouk, Mi Ja; Hwang, Seung Ok; Lee, Gwan Woo; Kang, Bong Jin; Kim, Seok Kon; Kim, Tae Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy becomes more favorite method than traditional open cholecystectomy. But postoperative pain control is still remaining problem. METHOD: Patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assigned to two groups by simple randomization (15 patients per group). Group C (control) had no specific treatment and group B (bupivacaine) received 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1:200,000 before surgery. Immediately after the creation of a pneumoperitoneum, the surgeon sprayed the bupivacaine near and above the operation field. Operation was started 10 minutes after then. We attempted to investigate that the degree of postoperative pain which was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the verbal rating scale (VRS) in the recovery room at postoperative 1 h., as well as the analgesic requirements during the first 24 h. postoperatively. RESULT: VRS of group B was significantly lower than group C (p<0.05), but VAS was not significantly different. Six patients in group B and only one in group C requested no analgesics. Group C had statistically more frequent request for analgesics than group B (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The topical intraperitoneal anesthesia of 20 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine with epinephrine 1 : 200,000 before laparoscopic cholecystectomy is effective on the postoperative pain control. So, we recommmend that this simple and effective management is routinely treated in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.