Prospective randomised trial of standard pressure versus low pressure laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a tertiary care hospital from Kolkata: Our experience

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), the procedure of choice for symptomatic gall stone disease. An emerging trend is to perform Low pressure pnuemoperitonium laparoscopic surgery as it has additive advantages over standard pressure to avoid complications while providing adequate working space.Aims and Objectives: The current study was designed with an aim to compare the advantage of low pressure pneumoperitoneum vs standard pressure pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of General Surgery in R.G.Kar Medical College from January 2014 to June 2015. A total of 52 patients with symptomatic gall stone disease were recruited, 26 patients in each group randomly. Some intraoperative and post-operative parameters were studied.Results: All the intra-operative (IO) cardio-respiratory parameters (Pulse, Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP), End tidal CO2, spO2) were recorded just before incision, 20 minutes intra-operatively and before reversal of general anesthesia (GA). The IO parameters in our study, were found to be significant only at 20 minutes IO and before reversal of GA. The post-operative (PO) parameters (Pulse, MAP, Respiratory rate, spO2) and pain by VAS score at 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours post-operatively were studied. In PO period, we observed significant differences at 2 hours post-operatively in all parameters except MAP. There was significant difference in pain at 6, 12 and 24 hours when compared in both groups. The shoulder tip pain (STP) and 2 hours PO nausea and vomiting were found to be significantly higher in Standard pressure Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) compared to Low pressure Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LPLC). The operative time, duration of hospital stay and return to normal life after surgery though had differences but it was statisticallyinsignificant.Conclusion: Low pressure laparoscopic surgery is safe with least post operative complications when performed by experienced surgeons even in patients of ASA III.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.9(4) 2018 17-22