Comparative Study of Low Pressure versus Standard Pressure Carbon Dioxide Pneumoperitoneum in Reducing Shoulder Tip Pain Post Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for cholelithiasis. Postoperative shoulder tip pain is common complaint. Evidences suggest that using low pressure pneumoperitoneum (8-10 mmHg) during the procedure rather than standard pressure (12-14 mmHg) decreases the incidence and severity of shoulder tip pain without compromising working space. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of low pressure and standard pressure pneumoperitoneum on shoulder tip pain post laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: A prospective hospital based study conducted at Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur from January 2019 to December 2020. Hundred patients were enrolled, fifty each in “low pressure carbondioxide pneumoperitoneum” and “standard pressure carbondioxide pneumoperitoneum” groups, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The two groups were compared in terms of incidence and severity of shoulder tip pain, surgeon’s satisfaction score, top-up analgesia requirement, procedural time, conversion to standard pressure, intraoperative complications and length of hospital stay. Results: There were 45 (90%) females and five (10%) males in low pressure group and 44 (88%) females and six (12%) males in standard pressure group. Fourteen (28%) patients in low pressure and 32 (64%) patients in standard pressure group had shoulder tip pain (p=0.001). The severity of shoulder tip pain was less in low pressure group and was significant at eight hours (p=0.006) and 12 hours (p=0.008). Top-up analgesia was required more in standard pressure group. There were no intraoperative complications but only one conversion to standard pressure. Surgeon’s satisfaction score, conversion to open cholecystectomy and procedural time were comparable in both groups with shorter hospital stay in low pressure group. Conclusion: Low pressure carbondioxide pneumoperitoneum is safe and effective strategy in reducing incidence and severity of shoulder tip pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Minilaparotomy Cholecystectomy: A Forgotten Art in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Era (Our Experience from a Peripheral Hospital in North India)

Background: This study aimed to report the experience of performing minilaparotomy cholecystectomy in a peripheral hospital by a single surgeon. Methods: Data collected from 50 consecutive patients undergoing minilaparotomy cholecystectomy by a single surgeon over 18 months at a peripheral hospital were reviewed and studied. The recorded data encompassed demographics, operating time, incision size, conversion rate to open cholecystectomy, perioperative complications, and hospital stay duration. Results: Fifty consecutive patients, who underwent minilaparotomy cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis, were studied, among whom 48 patients were females. The participants’ mean age was 45 years. The length of the surgical incision was 4.5 - 6 cm, and only three patients required conversion to open cholecystectomy. The average operating time was 60 minutes; and the average postoperative hospital stay was 2.14 days. Conclusions: Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy is comparable with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of postoperative morbidity, and it is ideal for peripheral hospitals lacking laparoscopic facilities.

Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: recurrent biliary admissions predispose to difficult cholecystectomy

Introduction Patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELLC) represent a heterogeneous group making it challenging to stratify risk. The aim of this paper is to identify pre-operative factors associated with adverse peri- and post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing ELLC. This knowledge will help stratify risk, guide surgical decision making and better inform the consent process. Methods All patients who underwent ELLC between January 2015 and December 2019 were included in the study. Pre-operative data and both peri- and post-operative outcomes were collected retrospectively from multiple databases using a deterministic records-linkage methodology. Patients were divided into groups based on clinical indication (i.e. biliary colic versus cholecystitis) and adverse outcomes were compared. Multivariate regression models were generated for each adverse outcome using pre-operative independent variables. Results Two-thousand one hundred and sixty-six ELLC were identified. Rates of peri- and post-operative adverse outcomes were significantly higher in the cholecystitis versus biliary colic group and increased with number of admissions of cholecystitis (p < 0.05). Rates of subtotal (29.5%), intra-operative complication (9.8%), post-operative complications (19.6%), prolonged post-operative stay (45.9%) and re-admission (16.4%) were significant in the group of patients with ≥ 2 admissions with cholecystitis. Conclusion Our data demonstrate that patients with repeated biliary admission (particularly cholecystitis) ultimately face an increased risk of a difficult ELLC with associated complications, prolonged post-operative stay and readmissions. These data provide robust evidence that individualised risk assessment and consent are necessary before ELLC. Strategies to minimise recurrent biliary admissions prior to LC should be implemented.

A Comparison of effect of preemptive versus postoperative use of ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Nowadays, there are various methods to manage pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the effectof preemptive versus postoperative use of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (USG-TAP) block on pain relief after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this single-blinded randomized clinical trial, the patients who were candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into the two groups (n = 38 per group). In the preemptive group (PG) after the induction of anesthesia and in the postoperative group (POG) after the end of surgery and before the extubation, bilateral ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block was performed on patients using 20 cc of ropivacaine 0.25%. Both groups received patient controlled IV analgesia (PCIA) containing Acetaminophen (20 mg/ml) plus ketorolac (0.6 mg/ml) as a standard postoperative analgesia and meperidine 20 mg q 4 h PRN for rescue analgesia. Using the numerical rating scales (NSR), the patients’ pain intensity was assessed at time of arrival to the PACU and in 2th, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th h. Primary outcome of interest is NSR at rest and coughing in the PACU and in 2th, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th h. Secondary outcomes of interests were the time to first post-surgical rescue analgesic and level of patients’ pain control satisfaction in the first 24 h. The USG-TAP block significantly decreased pain score in the POG compared to the PG, and also the pain was relieved at rest especially in 8 and 12 h (p value ≤ 0.05) after the surgery. Pain score after coughing during recovery at 2, 8 and 12 h after the operation were significantly decreased. (p value ≤ 0.05) The patient satisfaction scores in the POG were significantly higher in all times. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of rate of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), indicating that patients in the POG had significantly lower incidences of the PONV compared tothe PG. The time to first analgesic request was significantly shorterin the POG, which was statistically significant (p value = 0.089). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of consumption of analgesics. The postoperative TAP block could offer better postoperative analgesia than preepmtive TAP block.

Important risk factors for gallstones after laparoscopic gastrectomy: a retrospective study

Background The frequency of gallstones is higher in patients who have undergone gastrectomy than in the general population. While there have been some studies of gallstone formation after open gastrectomy, there are few reports of gallstones after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of gallstones after LG. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 184 patients who underwent LG between January 2011 and May 2016 at Saiseikai Utsunomiya Hospital. After gastrectomy, abdominal ultrasonography was generally performed every 6 months for 5 years. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy before LG, underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy, and did not undergo abdominal ultrasonography, with an observation period of < 24 months, were excluded from the study. Finally, 90 patients were analyzed. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed whenever biliary complications occurred. Patient characteristics were compared using the two-tailed Fisher’s exact test or Chi-square test. In addition, the risk factors for postoperative gallstones were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 90 patients included in this study, 60 were men (78%), and the mean age was 65.5 years. Laparoscopic total gastrectomy was performed for 15 patients and laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for 75 patients. D2 lymph node dissection was performed for 8 patients (9%), whereas 68 patients underwent LG with Roux-en-Y reconstruction (76%). Gallstones were detected after LG in 27 of the 90 (30%) patients. Multivariate analysis identified Roux-en-Y reconstruction and male sex as significant risk factors of gallstones after gastrectomy. The incidence of gallstones was significantly higher (53%) in male patients who underwent Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Symptomatic gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy were found in 6 cases (6/27, 22%), and all patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Conclusion Roux-en-Y reconstruction and male sex were identified as significant risk factors for gallstones after LG.