Post laparoscopic pain control using local anesthesia through laparoscopic ports

Introduction: Although patients do not experience sever pain after laparoscopic surgery, most of them experience acute or chronic pain afterward. While conventional pain killers including NSAID and narcotics in laparoscopic surgery have specific side effects, their application is inevitable. This study compares the efficacy of local anesthetic drugs and conventional pain killers in post-operative pain control. Methods: This prospective clinical trial was conducted in two groups of patients (n=93). Group 1, as control group, was given conventional pain killers such as narcotics and NSAIDs. In another group as treatment group, at the end of laparoscopic surgeries, prior to port withdrawal, a local anesthetic mixture, a short acting (Lidocaine 2%) plus a long acting (Bupivacaine 0.5%) is instilled through the port lumen between the abdominal wall layers. The efficacy of both types of medications was compared with regards to their effectiveness and side effects. Results: 85% of the control group, received 5 to 20ml Morphine for pain control while the others were controlled with trans-rectal NSAIDs. In the treatment group, the pain of 65% of the patients was controlled only by local anesthetic drugs, 30% required NSAIDs and the other 5% required narcotics administration for pain control. Conclusions: The administration of local anesthetic drugs after laparoscopic surgery is an effective method for pain control with a low complication rate and side effects of narcotics.