A COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN WITH AND WITHOUT INSTILLATION OF BUPIVACAINE DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Abstract

Objective: To compare postoperative pain with and without instillation of bupivacaine during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Study Setting: Department of General Surgery, Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh, Pakistan

Study Duration: Six Months (November-2024 to April-2025).

Methodology: Sixty patients who were planned to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. They were divided into Group-A (bupivacaine instillation) and Group-B (normal Saline instillation). Post-operative pain and duration of analgesia was compared between groups.

Results: The study included 60 patients with a mean age of 45.08 ± 8.05 years, of whom 19 (31.67%) were male and 41 (68.33%) were female. At 24 hours postoperatively, the median pain score in Group-A was significantly lower at 1 than Group-B (p < 0.001). Additionally, the median duration of analgesia was markedly longer in Group-A at 3.00 hours (IQR: 6.00–2.00) versus 1.00 hour (IQR: 4.00–1.00) in Group-B (p < 0.001), indicating superior and more sustained pain control in Group-A.

Conclusion: Bupivacaine instillation into the gallbladder fossa during surgery is a useful practice to reduce post-operative pain and enhance duration of analgesia after operation.