Intraperitoneal bupivacaine does not attenuate pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is characterized by a short hospital stay. Hence, pain control on the day of surgery is increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


METHODS
Sixty patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were prospectively randomized into 2 groups. Following removal of the gallbladder, group A received 100 mg of bupivacaine in 50 cc of saline, installed into the gallbladder bed and right subphrenic space. Group B received saline without bupivacaine. Pain was assessed using a visual/analog scale at fixed-time intervals.


RESULTS
No significant difference occurred in the average pain levels between the groups at 1, 2, 4, and 14 hours postsurgery. The average analgesic requirement was lower in the bupivacaine group, but this did not reach statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
Application of intraperitoneal bupivacaine did not attenuate pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and no role exists for its routine use.
Zmora
O
O
Department of Surgery, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. Ozmora@hotmail.com
Stolik-Dollberg
O
O
Bar-Zakai
B
B
Rosin
D
D
Kuriansky
J
J
Shabtai
M
M
Perel
A
A
Ayalon
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine