Intraperitoneal Lidocaine after cholecystectomy is linked with reduced analgesic consumption

Intraperitoneal instillation of 2% Lidocaine after laparoscopic cholecystectomy effectively relieved post laparoscopic cholecystectomy pain and was linked to decreased analgesic consumption when compared to subcutaneous injection of Lidocaine at the port site, as per a study published in "Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery". In this randomized controlled study, the effectiveness of intraperitoneal and incisional use of local anesthesia in cholecystectomy was compared.

Overall, 82 individuals who were scheduled to undergo cholecystectomy were recruited. The instillation group and the infiltration group were formed by randomly dividing the patients into two equal groups. After the gallbladder was removed, a 2% Lidocaine ampule was injected into the gallbladder bed in the instillation group. Before creating the incisions for the insertion of laparoscopic ports, a 2% Lidocaine ampule was subcutaneously injected into the port sites in the infiltration group.

In the infiltration and instillation groups, the mean age of the patients was 48.05 ± 17.03 and 41.66 ± 14.44 years, respectively. Polyps (2.4), symptomatic gallstones (68.3%), and acute calculous cholecystitis (29.3%) were the etiologies noted in this investigation. There were no discernible differences in the two groups' pain levels estimated at six distinct time points, which were taken from the moment of awakening from anesthesia to 24 hours following the procedure.

In the instillation group, narcotic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use were clinically reduced. However, there was no clinically meaningful inter-group difference regarding postoperative nausea and vomiting, the amount of time it took to resume regular bowel movements and oral diet, or length of hospitalization. Hence, intraperitoneally administered Lidocaine after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is beneficial to minimize post-operative pain and lower analgesic consumption.