Combined low pressure pneumoperitoneum and intraperitoneal infusion of normal saline for reducing shoulder tip pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND
Intraabdominal CO(2) gas after laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes postoperative shoulder-tip pain. Many methods of analgesia have been used to reduce this pain, including analgesic drugs, intraperitoneal local anesthetic, intraperitoneal saline, a gas drain, heated gas, low-pressure gas, and nitrous oxide pneumoperitoneum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined low-pressure CO(2) pneumoperitoneum and intraperitoneal infusion of normal saline in reducing the incidence of postoperative shoulder-tip pain.


METHODS
Altogether, 109 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized prospectively into three groups. Patients in group A (n = 34) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 14 mmHg CO(2) pneumoperitoneum; patients in group B (n = 37) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 10 mmHg CO(2) pneumoperitoneum; and those in group C (n = 38) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 10 mmHg CO(2) pneumoperitoneum in addition to intraperitoneal normal saline infusion in the right hemidiaphragmatic area. Shoulder-tip pain was recorded on a verbal rating scale 2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after operation.


RESULTS
Twelve patients in group A (35.2 percent), six in group B (16.2 percent), and seven in group C (18.4 percent) complained of shoulder-tip pain. Hence, there was a significant decrease in the frequency of shoulder-tip pain in groups B and C in relation to group A, but there was no significant difference between groups B and C. The postoperative shoulder-tip pain scores were significantly reduced in group C at 6, 12, and 24 hours. The number of patients who required additional analgesics was also reduced in group C.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-pressure CO(2) pneumoperitoneum reduces the number of patients complaining of shoulder-tip pain and the intensity of the pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The addition of intraperitoneal normal saline infusion to low-pressure CO(2) pneumoperitoneum seems to reduce the intensity but not the frequency of shoulder-tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Esmat
M Emad
ME
Department of Surgery, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Kornish el Nile, Warak, Imbaba, PO Box 30, Giza, Cairo 12411, Egypt. emadesmat2000@yahoo.com
Elsebae
Magdy M A
MM
Nasr
Magid M A
MM
Elsebaie
Sameh B
SB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011028:Pneumoperitoneum, Artificial; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D012965:Sodium Chloride