Prospective randomized trial of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum for reduction of shoulder-tip pain following laparoscopy

Sarli, L.
Costi, R.
Sansebastiano, G.
Trivelli, M.
Roncoroni, L.

Institute of General Surgery and Surgical Therapy and *Institute of Hygiene, Parma University School of Medicine, Parma, Italy

Correspondence to: Dr L. Sarli, Institute of General Surgery and Surgical Therapy, Parma University, Via Gramsci 14, 43 100, Italy

Paper accepted 9 March 2000

British Journal of Surgery 87(9):p 1161-1165, September 2000.

Background:

Postoperative shoulder-tip pain occurs frequently following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a low-pressure carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery in reducing the incidence of postoperative shoulder-tip pain.

Methods:

Ninety consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized prospectively into low-pressure (group A) and normal-pressure (group B) laparoscopic cholecystectomy groups. Patients in group A (n = 46) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 9 mmHg carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum during most of the operation, and those in group B (n = 44) had laparoscopic cholecystectomy with 13 mmHg pneumoperitoneum. Shoulder-tip pain was recorded on a visual analogue pain scale 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after operation.

Results:

The low-pressure pneumoperitoneum did not increase the duration of surgery. There were no significant intraoperative or postoperative complications in either group. Fourteen patients (32 per cent) in group B and five (11 per cent) in group A complained of shoulder pain (P < 0.05). Mean shoulder-tip pain scores at 12 and 24 h and postoperative analgesia requirements were also significantly lower in the low-pressure laparoscopic cholecystectomy group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

A carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum pressure lower than that usually utilized to perform laparoscopic surgery reduces both the frequency and intensity of shoulder-tip pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.