Effect of 0.5% Bupivacaine at the Surgical Bed After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of 0.5% bupivacaine irrigated at the surgical bed on
postoperative pain relief in laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients.
Material & Methods: This study included 80 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic
cholecystectomy who were prospectively randomized into 2 groups. The placebo group (n=40)
received 20cc saline without bupivacaine, instilled into the gallbladder bed. The bupivacaine
group (n=40) received 20cc of 0.5% bupivacaine at the same surgical site. Pain was assessed at
0, 6, 12, and 24 hours by using a visual analog scale (VAS).
Results: Asignificant difference (p=0.018) was observed in pain levels between both groups at 6
hours post operatively. The average analgesic requirement was lower in the bupivacaine group,
but this did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion: The use of bupivacaine irrigated in the surgical bed was an effective method for
reducing pain during the first postoperative hours after laparoscopic cholecystectomy