To Compare Gall Bladder Retrieval from Epigastric versus Umbilical Port in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Introduction: Pain is the most frequent complaint following laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the main reason for staying overnight at hospital. The retrieval of gall bladder (GB), an important terminal event of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, has been reported as one of the factors affecting postoperative port-site pain due to tissue trauma at port site. This extraction of GB is usually done either from the epigastric or umbilical port as per the surgeon’s preference. We tried to compare the postoperative pain and ease of retrieval among epigastric and umbilical port retrieval. Materials and Methods: It was a randomized controlled trial at a tertiary care hospital over 2 years. A total of 70 participants were finally analyzed in the study. The participants were divided into 2 groups based on the port of retrieval. The postoperative pain and ease of retrieval were analyzed among the groups. Results: Mean postoperative port-site pain and ease of retrieval were significantly better with retrieval through umbilical port as compared with the epigastric port with P values of. 0013 and. 0023, respectively. However, time taken for retrieval was significantly less when done through epigastric port. Conclusion: This study thus recommends umbilical port to be used for retrieval of GB due to significantly lesser port-site pain and better ease of retrieval.