Visual analog scale pain score after laparoscopic tubal sterilization: comparison of micro-laparoscopy and conventional technique

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare pain status after microlaparoscopic tubal sterilization under local anesthesia with mild sedation and after conventional laparoscopic tubal sterilization under general anesthesia. Between March 2003 and January 2004, 100 women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization were equally and prospectively divided into two groups: microlaparoscopy (Group I) and conventional laparoscopy (Group II). For microlaparoscopic tubal sterilization a micro-telescope of 1.7 mm was used. Postoperative pain level was evaluated with the use of the visual analog scale (VAS) with scores ranging from 1 to 10. The groups were comparable in age, body mass index (BMI), and educational status. Group I had significantly lower VAS pain scores at 30-min (p=0.024), 1-h (p=0.038), and 2-h (p=0.016) intervals, although the 24-h (p=0.655) and 48-h (p=0.988) scores of the two groups were similar. While none of the patients in Group I needed additional postoperative analgesic drugs, 12% of the patients in Group II required additional analgesia. There were no operative complications in either of the groups, and none of the patients required conversion from the microlaparoscopic technique to a traditional method. In conclusion, our data suggest that for women needing surgical sterilization, microlaparoscopy has the advantage of a lower postoperative discomfort rate with regard to VAS pain scores, especially within the first 2 h.