The influence of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on pain following major laparoscopic gynaecological procedures

Comparison of Postoperative Pain and Analgesic Requirements Between Laparoscopic and Open Hernia Repair in Children

Background

This study analyses the impact of anaesthetic blockade and intraperitoneal local anaesthetic infiltration on paediatric laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Method

A retrospective review of paediatric laparoscopic hernia repairs versus open repairs. Anaesthetic blockade, analgesic consumption and postoperative pain scores were compared between groups.

Results

155 children underwent laparoscopic repair, 150 underwent open repairs. Median age was 7.2 months (16 days–14 years) in the laparoscopic group, 6 months (17 days–13 years) in the open group. Anaesthetic blockade varied significantly; 62.7% of open cases had caudal blockade compared to 21.6% laparoscopic (p < 0.001). A subset of laparoscopic patients had peritoneal local anaesthetic infiltration. 10.1% of laparoscopic cases required recovery analgesia, compared to 1.3% of open cases (p = 0.001). Postoperative analgesic consumption was significantly higher in the laparoscopic group. Peritoneal infiltration reduced analgesic consumption in the laparoscopic group (p = 0.038). Age < 2 was associated with use of caudal (p < 0.001), which reduced analgesic consumption.

Conclusions

Laparoscopy was associated with increased use of recovery analgesia. Caudal reduced the need for rescue and postoperative analgesia. Intraperitoneal infiltration of local anaesthetic is associated with reduced postoperative analgesia in laparoscopy. In suitable patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, combination caudal and peritoneal infiltration may prove a useful adjunctive analgesic strategy.

Combination of a pulmonary recruitment maneuver and intraperitoneal bupivacaine for the reduction of postoperative shoulder pain in gynecologic laparoscopy: a randomized, controlled trial

Objective

To compare the efficacy of a pulmonary recruitment maneuver using lower airway pressure (30 cm H₂O) and intraperitoneal bupivacaine, alone or in combination, for reducing shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy.

Methods

A prospective controlled study was performed in a teaching hospital with patients who underwent elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Two hundred eighty-seven patients were randomized into 1 of 4 groups: group A, placebo; group B, intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine; group C, CO₂ removal by a pulmonary recruitment maneuver; group D, combination of intraperitoneal bupivacaine and pulmonary recruitment maneuver. The interventions were performed at the end of surgery. Shoulder pain was recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.

Results

The overall incidence of shoulder pain was 49.8% and the incidence tended to gradually decrease from group A to group D (59.0% in group A, 54.8% in group B, 44.4% in group C, and 41.5% in group D; P=0.026). In addition, the VAS scores gradually decreased from group A to D, although a statistically significant difference was only found at 6 hours postoperatively (P=0.03). There were no complications related to the interventions.

Conclusion

The combination of a pulmonary recruitment maneuver with intraperitoneal bupivacaine significantly reduced shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01039441

Interventions to reduce shoulder pain following gynaecological laparoscopic procedures

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopy is a common procedure used to diagnose and treat various gynaecological conditions. Shoulder-tip pain (STP) as a result of the laparoscopy occurs in up to 80% of women, with potential for significant morbidity, delayed discharge and readmission. Interventions at the time of gynaecological laparoscopy have been developed in an attempt to reduce the incidence and severity of STP.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effectiveness and safety of methods for reducing the incidence and severity of shoulder-tip pain (STP) following gynaecological laparoscopy.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases: Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility (CGF) Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Studies Online (CRSO), MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL from inception to 8 August 2018. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and registers of ongoing trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions used during or immediately after gynaecological laparoscopy to reduce the incidence or severity of STP.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. Primary outcomes: incidence or severity of STP and adverse events of the interventions; secondary outcomes: analgesia usage, delay in discharge, readmission rates, quality-of-life scores and healthcare costs.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 32 studies (3284 women). Laparoscopic procedures in these studies varied from diagnostic procedures to complex operations. The quality of the evidence ranged from very low to moderate. The main limitations were risk of bias, imprecision and inconsistency.Specific technique versus "standard" technique for releasing the pneumoperitoneumUse of a specific technique of releasing the pneumoperitoneum (pulmonary recruitment manoeuvre, extended assisted ventilation or actively aspirating intra-abdominal gas) reduced the severity of STP at 24 hours (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.82 to -0.50; 5 RCTs; 670 participants; I² = 0%, low-quality evidence) and reduced analgesia usage (SMD -0.53, 95% CI -0.70 to -0.35; 4 RCTs; 570 participants; I² = 91%, low-quality evidence). There appeared to be little or no difference in the incidence of STP at 24 hours (odds ratio (OR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.82; 1 RCT; 118 participants; low-quality evidence).No adverse events occurred in the only study assessing this outcome.Fluid instillation versus no fluid instillationFluid instillation is probably associated with a reduction in STP incidence (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.66; 2 RCTs; 220 participants; I² = 0%, moderate-quality evidence) and severity (mean difference (MD) (0 to 10 visual analogue scale (VAS) scale) -2.27, 95% CI -3.06 to -1.48; 2 RCTs; 220 participants; I² = 29%, moderate-quality evidence) at 24 hours, and may reduce analgesia usage (MD -12.02, 95% CI -23.97 to -0.06; 2 RCTs; 205 participants, low-quality evidence).No study measured adverse events.Intraperitoneal drain versus no intraperitoneal drainUsing an intraperitoneal drain may reduce the incidence of STP at 24 hours (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.46; 3 RCTs; 417 participants; I² = 90%, low-quality evidence) and may reduce analgesia use within 48 hours post-operatively (SMD -1.84, 95% CI -2.14 to -1.54; 2 RCTs; 253 participants; I² = 90%). We are uncertain whether it reduces the severity of STP at 24 hours, as the evidence was very low quality (MD (0 to 10 VAS scale) -1.85, 95% CI -2.15 to -1.55; 3 RCTs; 320 participants; I² = 70%).No study measured adverse events.Subdiaphragmatic intraperitoneal local anaesthetic versus control (no fluid instillation, normal saline or Ringer's lactate)There is probably little or no difference between the groups in incidence of STP (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.23; 4 RCTs; 336 participants; I² = 0%; moderate-quality evidence) and there may be no difference in STP severity (MD -1.13, 95% CI -2.52 to 0.26; 1 RCT; 50 participants; low-quality evidence), both measured at 24 hours. However, the intervention may reduce post-operative analgesia use (SMD-0.57, 95% CI -0.94 to -0.21; 2 RCTs; 129 participants; I² = 51%, low-quality evidence).No adverse events occurred in any study.Local anaesthetic into peritoneal cavity (not subdiaphragmatic) versus normal salineLocal anaesthetic into the peritoneal cavity may reduce the incidence of STP at 4 to 8 hours post-operatively (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.93; 2 RCTs; 157 participants; I² = 56%; low-quality evidence). Our other outcomes of interest were not assessed.Warmed, or warmed and humidified CO₂ versus unwarmed and unhumidified CO₂There may be no difference between these interventions in incidence of STP at 24 to 48 hours (OR 0.81 95% CI 0.45 to 1.49; 2 RCTs; 194 participants; I² = 12%; low-quality evidence) or in analgesia usage within 48 hours (MD -4.97 mg morphine, 95% CI -11.25 to 1.31; 1 RCT; 95 participants; low-quality evidence); there is probably little or no difference in STP severity at 24 hours (MD (0 to 10 VAS scale) 0.11, 95% CI -0.75 to 0.97; 2 RCTs; 157 participants; I² = 50%; moderate-quality evidence).No study measured adverse events.Gasless laparoscopy versus CO₂ insufflationGasless laparoscopy may be associated with increased severity of STP within 72 hours post-operatively when compared with standard treatment (MD 3.8 (0 to 30 VAS scale), 95% CI 0.76 to 6.84; 1 RCT; 54 participants, low-quality evidence), and there may be no difference in the risk of adverse events (OR 2.56, 95% CI 0.25 to 26.28; 1 RCT; 54 participants; low-quality evidence).No study measured the incidence of STP.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is low to moderate-quality evidence that the following interventions are associated with a reduction in the incidence or severity, or both, of STP, or a reduction in analgesia requirements for women undergoing gynaecological laparoscopy: a specific technique for releasing the pneumoperitoneum; intraperitoneal fluid instillation; an intraperitoneal drain; and local anaesthetic applied to the peritoneal cavity (not subdiaphragmatic).There is low to moderate-quality evidence that subdiaphragmatic intraperitoneal local anaesthetic and warmed and humidified insufflating gas may not make a difference to the incidence or severity of STP.There is low-quality evidence that gasless laparoscopy may increase the severity of STP, compared with standard treatment.Few studies reported data on adverse events. Some potentially useful interventions have not been studied by RCTs of gynaecological laparoscopy.

Essential Elements of Multimodal Analgesia in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Guidelines

Perioperative multimodal analgesia uses combinations of analgesic medications that act on different sites and pathways in an additive or synergistic manner to achieve pain relief with minimal or no opiate consumption. Although all medications have side effects, opiates have particularly concerning, multisystemic, long-term, and short-term side effects, which increase morbidity and prolong admissions. Enhanced recovery is a systematic process addressing each aspect affecting recovery. This article outlines the evidence base forming the current multimodal analgesia recommendations made by the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Society (ERAS). We describe current evidence and important future directions for effective perioperative multimodal analgesia in enhanced recovery pathways.

Effect of Intraperitoneal Bupivacaine on Postoperative Pain in the Gynecologic Oncology Patient

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if the administration of intraperitoneal bupivacaine decreased postoperative pain in patients undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic and gynecologic cancer surgery.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

University-based gynecologic oncology practice operating at a tertiary medical center.

PATIENTS

All patients on the gynecologic oncology service undergoing minimally invasive surgery between September 2011 and June 2013.

INTERVENTIONS

Starting August 2012, intraperitoneal administration of .25% bupivacaine was added to all minimally invasive surgeries. These patients were compared with historical control subjects who had surgery between September 2011 and July 2012 but did not receive intraperitoneal bupivacaine.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One-hundred thirty patients were included in the study. The patients who received intraperitoneal bupivacaine had lower median narcotic use on the day of surgery and the first postoperative day compared with those who did not receive intraperitoneal bupivacaine (day 0: 7.0 mg morphine equivalents vs 11.0 mg, p = .007; day 1: .3 mg vs 1.7 mg, p = .0002). The median patient-reported pain scores were lower on the day of surgery in the intraperitoneal bupivacaine group (2.7 vs 3.2, p = .05) CONCLUSIONS: The administration of intraperitoneal bupivacaine was associated with improved postoperative pain control in patients undergoing minimally invasive gynecologic and gynecologic cancer surgery and should be further evaluated in a prospective study.

Intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine for reduction of postoperative pain after laparoscopic hysterectomy: a double-blind randomized controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect on postoperative pain of intraperitoneal instillation of dilute bupivacaine at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Tertiary care, urban, academic teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Women aged 18 to 65 years undergoing total or supracervical laparoscopic hysterectomy with or without salpingo-oophorectomy.

INTERVENTION

Randomization to intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine vs normal saline solution at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy performed because of benign indications.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

A total of 160 patients consented to participate in the study and were randomized to receive either intraperitoneal instillation of 100 mg bupivacaine in 100 mL normal saline solution or 100 mL normal saline solution alone, at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy. Sixty seven of 77 patients (87%) in the treatment group and 73 of 80 patients (91%) in the placebo group completed the study. There were no significant differences in demographic profile, indication for hysterectomy, or number of previous surgeries between the two groups. All patients were prescribed a standardized routine postoperative analgesic regimen. Pain was measured by patient self-report using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. Mean VAS scores at all time points were between 2.0 and 4.3 and were highest in the first postoperative hour. VAS scores were not significantly different between the two groups at any time point. None of the measured secondary outcomes were significantly different between the bupivacaine and placebo groups, including total postoperative opioid analgesic use in morphine equivalents (23.2 mg vs 27.5 mg; p = .09), length of hospital stay in hours (23.3 vs 23.0; p = .49), patient satisfaction on a 10-cm VAS (9.0 vs 8.2; p = .12), and complication rates (9% vs 15%; p = .35).

CONCLUSION

Intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine at the conclusion of laparoscopic hysterectomy does not reduce postoperative pain. Opioid analgesic use, length of hospital stay, overall patient satisfaction, and complication rates are also unchanged. Self-reported postoperative pain was low in both groups after this major gynecologic surgery performed laparoscopically.

Systematic review and metaanalysis of intraperitoneal instillation of local anesthetics for reduction of pain after gynecologic laparoscopy

We reviewed the effectiveness of intraperitoneal instillation of local anesthetic on pain after gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Sources included the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations databases, and abstracts, reference lists, and randomized controlled trial (RCT) registries. The 7 included RCTs compared pain scores after administration of intraperitoneal analgesics or placebo/control during gynecologic laparoscopic surgery with benign indications. Outcome measures were pain scores (per visual analog scale) at 1 to 2, 4 to 6, and 24 hours postoperatively. Pain scores were significantly lower in the groups receiving local anesthesia at 1 to 2 hours (weighted mean difference [WMD], -1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.55 to -1.08]) and 4 to 6 hours postoperatively (WMD, -2.00; 95% CI, -3.64 to -0.35), but were similar at 24 hours (WMD, -1.43; 95% CI, -1.15 to 0.96). Local analgesia instilled intraperitoneally significantly decreased pain during a 6-hour interval after gynecologic laparoscopy.

To compare the efficacy of two doses of intraperitoneal bupivacaine for pain relief after operative laparoscopy in gynecology

AIM

To evaluate the effect of two doses of intraperitoneal bupivacaine administration for pain relief after operative gynecological laparoscopy.

DESIGN

Prospective randomized study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study group comprised 52 women undergoing gynecological laparoscopic surgery. A dose of either 0.125% bupivacaine 10 ml (50 mg) or 0.25% bupivacaine (100 mg) was instilled intraperitoneally at the end of the procedure. Pain scores were recorded in the postoperative period on a scale of 0-10 at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h intervals after the surgery. Any other side effect and the time and dose of analgesia required were noted. The results were compared in the two groups.

RESULTS

One hundred milligrams of bupivacine provided pain relief for a longer duration (8 h), as compared to 50 mg of the drug (4-6 h). This difference was statistically significant. Analgesic requirement was also less in the 100 mg group.

CONCLUSION

One hundred milligrams of intraperitoneal bupivacaine is much better than 50 mg in relieving pain after laparoscopic surgery.

Preemptive port site local anesthesia in gynecologic laparoscopy: a randomized, controlled trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of preemptive infiltration of port site with local anesthetic on postlaparoscopy pain.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Two university hospitals.

PATIENTS

A total of 170 women scheduled for gynecologic laparoscopic procedures were randomly assigned to pre-incisional infiltration with ropivacaine (n = 86) or with saline solution (n = 84).

INTERVENTIONS

Infiltration with either local anesthetic or placebo was accomplished in each port site before skin incision. All patients underwent standard anesthesia induction and maintenance.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Postoperative pain was evaluated with a visual analogue scale and patient interview at 1, 3, and 24 hours after surgery. No difference was found between groups in pain levels, pain location, or in the site of superficial pain at any of the postoperative time periods. The proportion of women requiring analgesia before discharge was similar in the local anesthetic group and in the saline group (22/86 [25.6%] vs 19/84 [22.6%], p = .72). The analgesic consumption in the first 24 hours after surgery and the time to first analgesic request did not differ significantly between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Preemptive infiltration of trocar sites with ropivacaine is not effective in postoperative pain relief.

Preemptive analgesia installation during gynecologic laparoscopy: A randomized trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative infusion of bupivacaine solution for the relief of pain after operative gynecologic laparoscopy.

DESIGN

Prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial (Canadian Task Force classification I4).

SETTING

Tertiary teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Ninety-one women aged 16 to 69 years who underwent gynecologic laparoscopic surgery from November 2002 through November 2003.

INTERVENTIONS

Group A (n = 30): intraperitoneal infusion of a mixture of 10 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine (50 mg) with epinephrine (1:500) in 40 mL of Ringer's lactate solution postoperatively. Group B (n = 30): the same mixture solution infusion preoperatively and postoperatively (total 100 mg bupivacaine). Group C (n = 31): placebo.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Shoulder tip pain (STP), abdominal parietal pain (APP), and abdominal visceral pain (AVP) were recorded on a visual analog scale at 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 hours postoperatively. A total of 79 patients fulfilled the study criteria. The overall incidence of STP was 60.8%. Abdominal visceral pain in group B was significantly less than in group C at 2 and 4 hours postoperatively (p = .011 and p = .010, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found in length of hospital stay, postoperative meperidine consumption, or side effects.

CONCLUSION

Intraperitoneal bupivacaine administration both immediately after placement of trocars and at the end of surgery was found to be effective in reducing the intensity of AVP but not in reducing STP, APP, or postoperative analgesia consumption after nonadvanced gynecologic laparoscopic procedures. The duration of the analgesic effect of bupivacaine instilled into the peritoneal cavity did not exceed 8 hours and probably was not dose related.

Intraperitoneal Ropivacaine and a Gas Drain: Effects on Postoperative Pain in Laparoscopic Surgery

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the benefits of the combination of a gas drain and the instillation of local anesthetic on the incidence of pain after operative gynecologic laparoscopy.

DESIGN

Randomized control trial (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

One hundred twenty-eight patients undergoing operative gynecologic laparoscopy procedures lasting less than 105 minutes.

INTERVENTIONS

Postoperatively, one group received a blocked drain and saline placed intraperitoneally; a second group was given a blocked drain and ropivacaine; a third group received a patent drain and saline; and a fourth was given a patent drain and ropivacaine.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Visual analogue pain scores (VAS) were measured at 1, 2, 4, and 12 hours and day 1 to day 7. Also measured was opioid consumption at 4 hours, nausea, and activity scores. We found a statistically significant improvement in pain scores at 2 and 4 hours in the group allocated to receive a patent drain and ropivacaine.

CONCLUSION

We recommend the use of a gas drain and ropivacaine to reduce postoperative pain.

Comparative, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Intraperitoneal of Bupivacaine and Lidocaine for Pain Control after Diagnostic Laparoscopy

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine and lidocaine on reducing pain after diagnostic laparoscopy.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (Canadian Task Force classification I).

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirty-four women with unexplained infertility.

INTERVENTION

Diagnostic laparoscopy with intraperitoneal administration of bupivacaine or lidocaine.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients were randomized into one of four groups. In group A, at the end of laparoscopy 0.125% bupivacaine 30 ml was instilled into the pelvic cavity and the same dose was instilled over the diaphragmatic vault. Groups B and C received the same volume of 5% lidocaine and normal saline, respectively. Group D received no intraperitoneal agent. The verbal pain scale questionnaire was used to assess postoperative pain. Pain scores 2 and 24 hours postoperatively were significantly lower for group A than for groups B and C (p = 0.0001). Scores in group B were also significantly lower than those in groups C and D (p = 0.0001). Women in group A required less additional analgesia than those in the other groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with lidocaine and placebo, intraperitoneal bupivacaine significantly decreased postoperative pain, and this effect was long lasting.