A Randomized Trial of Low-Pressure (08–10 mm Hg) vs. Standard-Pressure (13–15 mm Hg) Pneumoperitoneum in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

The reported incidence of shoulder tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 30%–50%. The aim of the present randomized controlled study was to compare the effects of low-pressure (08–10 mm Hg) vs. standard-pressure (13–15 mm Hg) pneumoperitoneum in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. One hundred patients between 18 and 70 years undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included. Group A and group B patients underwent low-pressure and standard-pressure pneumoperitoneum laparoscopic cholecystectomy respectively. Post-operative shoulder tip pain and post-operative abdominal pain were measured using visual analogue scale score at 2 h, 8 h, 24 h and 48 h after surgery. The primary outcome measures were the incidence and severity of post-operative shoulder tip pain, whereas secondary outcome measures were the incidence and severity of abdominal pain. Intergroup comparison of categorical and continuous variables was done using the chi-square test/Fisher’s exact test and unpaired ‘t’ test respectively. The incidence and severity of post-operative shoulder tip pain at 2 h, 8 h, 24 h and 48 h was significantly higher in group B as compared to group A. The incidence of post-operative abdominal pain at 48 h was significantly higher in group B as compared to group A. The severity of post-operative abdominal pain at 24 h and 48 h was significantly higher in group B as compared to group A. Low-pressure laparoscopic cholecystectomy significantly decreases the incidence and severity of post-operative shoulder tip and abdominal pain. Routine use of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum for the alleviation of post-operative pain following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended.