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Subject Area

General Surgery

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the value of using irrigation with sodium bicarbonate in relieving pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered as the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholelithiasis. Few studies reported about the clinical significance of pain control after laparoscopic surgery. This randomized clinical trial was designed to determine whether it is possible to reduce postlaparoscopic pain by neutralizing acidic peritoneal environment (created by CO2 insufflation) using peritoneal irrigation with sodium bicarbonate. Patients and methods This double-blinded randomized clinical trial was carried out on 32 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results The time of pneumoperitoneum in sodium bicarbonate group ranged from 27 to 67, with mean ± SD of 49.81 ± 11.55, whereas in the nonwashing group, the time of pneumoperitoneum ranged from 26 to 63, with mean ± SD of 45 ± 11.21, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.241) between the two groups. Visual analog scale at 24 h in the sodium bicarbonate group ranged from 2 to 6, with mean ± SD of 3.56 ± 1.09, whereas in the nonwashing group, the visual analog scale score at 24 h ranged from 2 to 9 with mean ± SD of 5.81 ± 1.87, with a highly statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.001) between the two groups. Regarding the sites of pain, there was no significant difference between the two studied groups (P = 0.858). Conclusion Intraperitoneal irrigation of sodium bicarbonate is a simple and safe method that provides pain relief in the postoperative period after laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with nonwashing. Moreover, intraperitoneal irrigation of sodium bicarbonate was found to have a better pain relief profile compared with normal saline.

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