A prospective randomized controlled study on the role of restoring liver diaphragm surface tension and pain control at port sites in optimizing pain management following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: After laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), pain is still a significant concern leading to extended hospital stays or readmissions. A standardized strategy is needed to offer effective pain relief postoperatively. The pain in the early postoperative period is mainly due to elimination of intraperitoneal surface tension. The aim of this study is to evaluate the restoration of intraabdominal surface tension and the use of bupivacaine-soaked tachosil to control parietal abdominal pain at the port sites to optimize postoperative pain management.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2020 to December 2021, 816 patients undergoing LC were randomized into two groups after exclusion of 12 patients: Group A-interventional contained 402 patients; Group B-control contained 402 patients. Data to be compared were made in terms of operative time, shoulder pain, upper abdominal pain, and number of analgesic doses and hospital stay. Pain intensity was assessed by using the visual analog scale.

RESULTS: There was no significant variation in the demographic data between the two groups. There was significant statistical difference between Groups (A) and (B) regarding severity of shoulder pain and port site pain and number of analgesic doses and hospital stay in favor of Group (A). The results were evaluated within 95% confidence intervals and significance was determined as P  < .05.

CONCLUSION: The restoration of intraabdominal surface tension by absorbing as much CO2 as possible at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy via the epigastric port route, as well as the use of bupivacaine-soaked tachosil to control parietal abdominal pain at the port sites; both steps significantly improved postoperative pain management, reduced the number of analgesic doses, and decreased the length of hospital stay.