The efficacy of active gas suctioning to decrease the residual CO2 for preventing postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy shoulder pain

Abstract EN

Shoulder pain, apparently specific to laparoscopic surgery is one of the early post-laparoscopic symptoms related to residual CO2 used for pneumoperitoneum and remaining in the abdomen after the operation.

This study was conducted to observe the efficacy of active gas suctioning to decrease the residual CO2 for preventing post-laparoscopic shoulder pain.

One hundred and thirty six patients (ASA class I and II) scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, were randomly assigned into two groups.

Group A, are cases with the ordinary procedure, while group B included active gas suctioning following laparoscopic surgery.

A proforma sheet was used for data of each patient including the following information : Age, weight, intra-peritoneal pressure, the duration of the operation and pain assessment score sheet. The results showed that residual CO2 removal by active suctioning significantly reduces postoperative shoulder pain 2.5 times more than the control group. In conclusion, active peritoneal suctioning at the end of laparoscopic surgery effectively evacuates residual CO2 thus preventing post-laparoscopic shoulder pain.

Residual CO2 after laproscopic surgery should be removed as completely as possible in all the cases.