Postoperative Intravenous Drip Infusion is not Required after Minilaparotomy Cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVE To determine if drip infusion should be discontinued after full recovery of the patient from anaesthesia after minilaparotomy cholecystectomy in uncomplicated cases. DESIGN A randomised controlled clinical trial on 60 patients, from the waiting list, of cholelithiasis/cholecystitis operated by minilaparotomy cholecystectomy between November 1995 to March 1996. 30 patients did not receive postoperative i.v. drip infusion and in 30 patients 12-24 hours of standard drip transfusion was continued according to the current practice. SETTING Single Surgical Unit, SS Hospital, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Recognition of clinical indication for continuation of i.v. drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia. RESULTS In the cohorts of 30 patients each who were or were not given i.v. drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia following minilaparotomy cholecystectomy the observations on pulse rate, blood pressure, time to first voiding of urine and time to start first oral intake of fluids were identical. However postoperative urinary retention occurred in 6 (20%) patients in whom the IV drip infusion was given. CONCLUSION There is no clinical indication to continue IV drip infusion after full recovery from anaesthesia in patients operated for minilaparotomy cholecystectomy.