The effect of intraperitoneal irrigation with saline at body temperature on post-cesarean section pain

Aim: This study aimed to compare the effect of intraperitoneal irrigation with saline at body temperature and drying with a sponge on pain and other early morbidities after cesarean section. Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was included 347 patients between November 2020 and January 2021. We designed two groups of patients whose abdomen was washed with saline or dried with a sponge during a cesarean section. The saline used was heated in sterile blood and fluid warmer, and the temperature was measured with a sterile mercury thermometer. Parameters such as VAS scores of the patients at specific periods, 6th, and 24th-hour Hb-Wbc values, and gas discharge time were compared. Results: The leukocyte value after 24 hours of cesarean was significantly lower, and the 24th-hour VAS score was higher in the group that was washed with isotonic and compared with the group that was dried with a sponge. In patients who had their first cesarean section, the 2nd-hour VAS score was lower in the saline-washed group than in the group cleaned with a sponge. In patients with previous cesarean section, the rate of flatulence at postoperative day 0 was significantly higher in the group that was washed with isotonic compared to the group that was dried with a sponge. The VAS score after 24 hours was also significantly higher. Discussion: It may be beneficial to clean with intraperitoneal saline irrigation or a sponge to reduce postoperative pain and return early bowel movements, especially in patients with previous surgery and possible intraabdominal adhesions.