Intraperitoneal normal saline and bupivacaine infusion for reduction of postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, CO2 remains within the peritoneal cavity, commonly causing pain. This prospective randomized study was performed to determine the efficacy of intraperitoneal normal saline and bupivacaine infusion on postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Three hundred patients were randomly assigned to one of six groups of 50 patients each. Group A patients served as controls. In group B patients, normal saline was infused under the right hemidiaphragm and suctioned after the pneumoperitoneum was deflated. After suction, a subhepatic closed drain was left for 24 h. In group C patients, bupivacaine 1.5 mg/kg in solution 2.5 mg/ml, minus 15 ml of this solution, which was infiltrated in the trocar wounds, was infused under the right hemidiaphragm at the end of the cholecystectomy. In group D patients, bupivacaine was given as in group C, but a subhepatic drain was left for 24 h. In group E patients, normal saline was used as in group B plus bupivacaine as in group C. Group F patients were treated as in group E, but a subhepatic drain was left for 24 h. In all groups, 15 ml of a 2.5 mg/ml bupivacaine solution was infiltrated in the trocar wounds. Postoperatively, analgesic medication usage, nausea, vomiting, and pain scores were recorded at 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. Postoperative pain was reduced significantly in the patients of the treatment groups vs. the controls. Between treatment groups, patients in groups B, E, and F had the best results, while those in groups C and D had significantly greater pain than those in groups B, E, and F. It is concluded that postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be significantly reduced by intraperitoneal normal saline infusion subdiaphragmatically and after its postdeflation suction, bupivacaine infusion in the same area, or without bupivacaine in case a subhepatic drainage has been needed.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using ultrasonically activated coagulating shears.

Ultrasonic energy has recently been used for surgical cutting and coagulating. A prospective randomized study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of ultrasonic energy versus monopolar electrosurgery in human laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Two hundred patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups of 100 patients each. Group A patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with monopolar electrocautery. Group B patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ultrasonically activated shears. In 18 cases of this group, the cystic artery was coagulated and cut without clips. Subhepatic closed drainage was left for 24 h in patients who were candidates for oozing of blood or leakage of bile. The median operating time was 45 min in group A and 37 min in group B. Subhepatic drainage was left in 37 patients of group A and 26 of group B. The median blood loss was 14 ml in group A and 2 ml in group B, while 3 patients of group A and none of group B had bile leakage from the bed of the gallbladder for 1, 1, and 6 days, respectively. Postoperative ultrasound examination showed a minor subhepatic fluid collection in 5 patients of group A and in 1 patient of group B. All these collections were treated without drainage. The length of hospital stay was 1.9 +/- 0.5 days in group A and 1.4 +/- 0.2 days in group B. Postoperative pain scores, nausea, and vomiting were equivalent in both groups. It is concluded that ultrasonically activated coagulating shears are safer, easier to use, faster, and less prone to intraoperative complications and postoperative morbidity than monopolar electrocautery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair of incisional hernia.

Improvements in laparoscopic techniques and equipment have engendered many new intraabdominal procedures. Laparoscopic hernioplasty was used in 11 patients with 12 incisional abdominal hernias. All repairs were made with an intraperitoneal onlay patch of expanded polytef Gore-Tex DualMesh Biomaterial. The patch was secured by whole-thickness sutures, tied subcutaneously through stab holes, and staples between the sutures to cover the hernia defect without excision of the hernia sac. There were three postoperative complications: one seroma, one hematoma, and one infection. These complications successfully healed without reoperation. No recurrence was observed during a follow-up of 8-21 months (average 15 months). It is concluded that laparoscopic incisional hernioplasty using the new Gore-Tex DualMesh Biomaterial, which is securely sutured and stapled on the abdominal wall, is a promising minimally invasive procedure. Continued follow-up is necessary to determine the long-term results.