INCIDENCE OF SHOULDER-TIP PAIN IN LAP. CHOLECYSTECTOMY NORMAL VERSUS LOW-PRESSURE PNEUMOPERITONEUM

Abstract

Open cholecystectomy can lead to several post-operative complications. However, with the advent of minimal access surgery, these complications have decreased to a large extent. Nowadays, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard for cholelithiasis. Similar to other surgeries, some post-operative complications are linked to laparoscopic surgery. One such complication is shoulder-tip pain. This study aimed to compare the intensity of post-op shoulder-tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy at low pressure (10mmHg or less than 10mmHg) and standard pressure (12-14mmHg). Two groups of 30 patients each were made in this prospective randomized study. Group A patients underwent low-pressure pneumoperitoneum cholecystectomy (10mmHg or less than 10mmHg), while group B underwent standard-pressure pneumoperitoneum cholecystectomy (12-15mmHg). According to the verbal pain intensity score, post-op shoulder-tip pain was reduced in Group A compared to Group B at 6, 12, and 24 postoperative hours. This study showed that using low-pressure pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces the intensity of post-operative shoulder pain and the need for analgesia.