title: Does post-laparoscopy pain relate to residual carbon dioxide?
abstract: We studied 20 day case gynaecological laparoscopy patients, who had an erect chest X ray taken before discharge. Patients were telephoned the next day for a semi-structured interview. Particular note was made of shoulder tip pain and pain relieved by changing posture. The X ray was analysed for measurements of the length of arc and height of the gas bubble under each hemi-diaphragm, from which an estimation of bubble volume was also made. We found statistically significant correlations between both the length of arc (p = 0.005) and volume of gas bubble (p = 0.008) on the right side, with the pain score. Residual gas can be a prominent cause of post-laparoscopy pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Sharoe Green Hospital, Fulwood, Preston.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Laurence
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011187:Posture; D011859:Radiography; D012782:Shoulder
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide