Efficacy of Port-site and Intraperitoneal Application of Bupivacaine in Reducing Early Post-laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Pain

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the analgesic efficacy of Bupivacaine application at port-site and intraperitoneal infiltration in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Place and Duration: The study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) Peshawar, Pakistan from June 2009 to June 2012. Materials and Methods: Patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the study period were included in the study. Eighty patients were randomized into two groups, study group and control group. The study group received 40 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine intraoperatively as intraperitoneal infiltration and local infiltration at the port sites. Pain assessment was done using visual analogue pain score (VAS) of 0-10 at fixed intervals during the first 24 hours post surgery. Results: The mean VAS score in the study group was less as compared to the control group throughout the 24 hours assessment period, however this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001) only during the first three assessments at 1 hour, 4 hours and 8 hours post surgery. The analgesia requirement was also significantly (p<0.001) decreased in the study group. Conclusion: Port site and intraperitoneal application of local anesthetic bupivacaine significantly reduced pain during the first 8 hours post surgery and total analgesia requirement was also significantly reduced. It is a simple and easily applicable technique which increases patient comfort and can be safely used to decrease post operative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.