Korean J Anesthesiol.  2004 Aug;47(2):222-227. 10.4097/kjae.2004.47.2.222.

Comparison of Postoperative Pain by Different Methods in the Removal of Gases after Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

• You SH
• Yoon JH
• Kim CS
• Ahn KR
• Kwon JH
• Kang KS
• Kim JE
• Lee HC

• KMID: 2237532
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2004.47.2.222

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery has many advantages compared with conventional methods and may allow a significant reduction in postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. Nevertheless, some patients still experience significant pain. Therefore, many clinicians have tried various methods to reduce of postoperative pain. We investigated degrees of postoperative pain and the incidences of shoulder pain versus the different methods of gas removal after laparoscopic surgery.
METHODS
Sixty ASA class I or II patients were included in this study. In Group A (Control group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed by the classic method without a drain tube. In Group B (Suction group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed using a suction device aggressively without a drain tube. In Group C (Drain group, n = 20), residual carbon dioxide was removed by the classic method with a drain tube. The intensities of abdominal and shoulder pain were assessed 1, 6, 24 and 48 hours after surgery using a visual analog scale (VAS) and a verbal rating scale (VRS). We also assessed the mean hospital stay for the three groups.
RESULTS
The abdominal pain scores (VAS and VRS) at 1 hour after surgery and the incidence of shoulder pain, epigastria pain and flank pain were significantly higher in Group A than in the other groups for 1hour after surgery (P <0.05). Mean hospital stay was significantly longer for group C.
CONCLUSIONS
After laparoscopic surgery, the active removal of residual carbon dioxide may be a simple and safe method that significantly reduces postoperative shoulder and abdominal pain.

Keyword

Laparoscopic surgery; removal of residual carbon dioxide; postoperative shoulder and abdominal pain

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Carbon Dioxide
Flank Pain
Gases*
Humans
Hysterectomy*
Incidence
Laparoscopy
Length of Stay
Pain, Postoperative*
Shoulder
Shoulder Pain
Suction
Visual Analog Scale
Carbon Dioxide
Gases