EFFICACY OF KETAMINE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of ketamine in the management of postoperative pain in patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Material and Methods: Total 164 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Ketamine and Control categories were randomized equally using a lottery method, with 82 participants in each group. Prior to surgery, either normal saline or ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) was injected intravenously. After surgery, pain was measured using Numeric Rating Scale, and if the NRS was ≥7, tramadol was administered. The effectiveness was determined by a pain score reduction of 25% or more between the baseline and two hours. Chi-square test was implemented with a significance level of p≤0.05.

Results: Group-K had 51.2% male and Group-C had 52.4% male participants; the mean age for Group-K was 45.65±18.76 years and for Group-C it was 46.50±19.28 years. The ketamine group maintained a lower postoperative pain score throughout all time intervals. Group K considerably reduced their tramadol consumption when compared to Group C. With a p-value of only 0.042, 54.9% of ketamine patients reported overall efficacy, compared to 39.0% of control patients.

Conclusion: When given to patients before surgery, low-dose ketamine significantly reduces postoperative pain scores, making for a more comfortable recovery time than both controls and opioid use alone.