A Prospective Randomized Trial to Study the Effect of Intraperitoneal Instillation of Ropivacaine in Postoperative Pain Reduction in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: postoperative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be due to various reasons. in this study reduction of visceral and shoulder tip pain is studied with intra peritoneal instillation of ropivacaine. objectives: the study was done to see the effect of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine on postoperative abdominal pain and shoulder pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. patients and methods: sixty patients with symptomatic gall stone diseases undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups. in study group a (n = 30 patients) 0.5% of 30 ml (150 mg) of ropivacaine, and in control (placebo) group b (n = 30) 30 ml of normal saline was instilled in the gall bladder bed. results: abdominal pain is worse during the first 24 hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. after 6 and 12 hours abdominal pain was significantly less in group a compared to group b (p < 0.035). group a experienced less shoulder tip pain during the first postoperative day, compared to control group. conclusions: intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine is more effective than placebo instillation at early postoperative hours in reducing postoperative abdominal pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.