Comparison of pharmacologic therapies alone versus operative techniques in combination with pharmacologic therapies for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) causes moderate pain. Various operative analgesic techniques and pharmacologic treatments can reduce postoperative pain. This single-center, single-surgeon randomized controlled study aimed to assess the efficacy of combined operative analgesic techniques and pharmacologic analgesia in decreasing pain in patients undergoing LC.

Materials and methods: Fifty-nine patients scheduled for LC were assigned into two groups. In the pharmacologic analgesia (P) group (n = 29), patients were treated with pharmacologic intervention, including preoperative celecoxib (200 mg), intraoperative acetaminophen (1 g), and dexamethasone (8 mg). In the operative analgesic treatments with pharmacologic analgesia (OP) group (n = 30), patients were treated with both operative analgesic techniques and pharmacologic analgesia, including low-pressure pneumoperitoneum, intraperitoneal normal saline irrigation, and aspiration of intraperitoneal carbon dioxide. The area under the curve (AUC) of pain score for postoperative 24 h was assessed at 0, 2, 6, and 24 h post-operation. The analgesic requirements and sleep quality at postoperative day 1 were assessed.

Results: The AUC/24 h of pain scores at rest and on cough were lower in the OP group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). The pain scores at rest were lower in the OP group at postoperative 2, 6, and 24 h (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, and p = 0.048, respectively). The pain scores on cough were lower in the OP group at postoperative 2 and 6 h (p = 0.004 and p = 0.008, respectively). Analgesic requirements were comparable. The sleep quality score at postoperative day 1 was higher in the OP group (56 ± 18 vs. 67 ± 15, absolute difference, 10; 95% confidence interval, 2 to 19; p = 0.017).

Conclusions: Combined operative analgesic therapies and pharmacologic analgesia compared to pharmacologic analgesia alone decreased pain scores and increased sleep quality in patients undergoing LC.