ABSTRACT
Postoperative pain has been an important limiting factor for ambulatory laparoscopic chlecystectomy. The intraperitoneal [IP] administration of drugs is controversial but has proven effective in some studies for the relief of postoperative pain following laparoscopic surgery. However, some investigators have not been able to confirm the analgesic efficacy of IP local anaesthetics. The administration of IP opioids for the relief of postoperative pain has received little attention. Forty patients, ASA physical status I and II were scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. At the end of anaesthesia, the patients were randomized into one of two groups: Patients of group A received 20 ml of IP ropivacaine 0.75% [150mg] and 50 mg of IM meperidine. Patients of group B received 20 ml of IP ropivacaine 0.75% [150mg] and 50 mg of IP meperidine. Postoperative pain scores were measured at rest and with movement at certain time periods for the first 24 hours. Pain scores were significantly lower in the group receiving the IP meperidine both at rest and with movement especially during the early post- operative hours. It was concluded that the combination of IP ropivacaine and IP meperidine was better than the combination of IP ropivacaine and IM meperidine for postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy