EFFECTIVENESS OF INTRA-PERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION OF 0.5% BUPIVACAINE IN POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 0.5% bupivacaine spray versus no spray in the gall bladder bed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of postoperative pain in first 24 hours.

Study Design: Randomized control trial.

Place and Duration of Study: Surgical ward, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from Jan 2011 to Jun 2011.

Material and Methods: A total of 62 patients were included in this study and they were randomly divided into two equal groups. At the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 0.5% bupivacaine was sprayed in gall bladder bed in a dose of 2 mg/ kg body weight in group-A whereas group B did not receive any intraperitoneal local anesthetic agent. Results were compared and p-value calculated.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 42.3 ± 3.9 and 43.1 ± 2.9 years in group-A and B, respectively. In Group-A, 11 patients (35.5%) and in group-B, 13 patients (41.9%) were male while 20 patients (64.5%) in group-A and 18 patients (58.1%) in group-B were female. Comparison of pain at 8 hours, postoperatively showed that in group-A, pain was reported in 8 patients (25.8%) and in group-B, in 24 patients (77.4%). Results were statistically significant with p<0.001. Similarly comparison of pain at 24 hours revealed that in group-A, pain was reported in 9 patients (29.0%) and in group-B, in 21 patients (67.7%). Results were statistically significant with p-value 0.002.

Conclusion: Intraperitoneal spray of 0.5% bupivacaine solution is effective in producing effective post-operative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.