EVALUATION OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN IN PATIENTS OF A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL UNDERGOING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY USING LOCAL ANESTHESIA BEFORE AND AFTER PORTAL INCISION

Abstract

Introduction: Video Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) impacts Brazilian public health, with thousands of procedures per year. LC is minimally invasive and removes the diseased gallbladder under general anesthesia. Post-operatively, intra-abdominal and incisional pain are the most common patient complaints. Objectives: To assess the differences in postoperative pain in patients undergoing LC with local anesthesia (LA) before and after portal incision. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, approved by the ethics committee, carried out with 30 patients divided into 2 groups of 15 each. In the first group (Group 1), LA was performed before portal incision. In the second group (Group 2), LA was administered in the synthesis, before suturing. Finally, the VAS pain questionnaire was applied in the 1st hour post-operatively to assess whether there was a difference between the groups. Results: Of the total, 12 patients classified their pain as level 1, which is mild pain, while 18 rated it as level 0, indicating the absence of pain. Comparatively, Group 1 had 4 patients with level 1, while Group 2 had 8 patients, a 100 per cent difference between them. As for level 0, Group 1 had 11 patients, while Group 2 had 7 patients, a difference of 36% between them. Conclusion: It is suggested that there is a benefit in terms of pain when anesthesia is used before the portals are incised, but don’t represent statistical difference (p-value 0.14), and an association between pain levels is not consolidated.