Intraperitoneal lignocaine application effect on analgesic outcome post-laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract EN

Objectives: To assess the effect of intraperitoneal lignocaine application on pain relief post- laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: Our prospective, randomized and double-blind investigation included 115 patients, of both sexes, aged 32-54 years, classed I-II by the American society of anesthesiologists and scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the years 2015 - 2016, at Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, Aqaba, Jordan.

Patients were divided into two groups.

Group I (n=55) patients received intraperitoneal lignocaine application [1.75 ml/kg of 0.2% lignocaine (total dose of 3.5 mg/kg)] and group II (n=60) patients received intraperitoneal saline application {the same volume of normal saline as the lignocaine solution} by the same surgical team and with the same technical procedure.

A 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain intensity was used to evaluate postoperative pain.

If the VAS score was more than 3, an analgesic (morphine sulphate 2 mg, intravenously) was used at intervals of 10 min.

The primary parameters of the investigation were total postoperative pain intensity evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively using the VAS score.

The frequency of analgesic administration was scored at the same previous intervals and compared between groups.

Postoperative pain control satisfaction scores were assessed using a numerical rating scale on discharge.

Descriptive parameters were subjected to chi-square test.

P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results: Total postoperative pain intensity and frequency of analgesic administration scores were remarkably decreased in group I in comparison with group II (P<0.05).

Pain control satisfaction score was more in group I than in group II.

At 1 h interval after surgery, total postoperative pain intensity score was remarkably less in group I than in group II (P<0.05).

At 1 h interval after surgery, frequency of analgesic administration was less in group I than in group II.

Conclusions: The application of lignocaine significantly decreased pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in comparison with saline.

Lignocaine application may be used for pain control after laparoscopic cholecystectomy but with extra job on the surgeon.