[The effect of intraperitoneal levobupivacain (Chirocaine) application on postoperative pain in laparoscopic cholecystectomy--a prospective study].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A prospective comparative trial was performed to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal Ievobupivacaine administration on postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients received a standardized procedure and were allocated to receive either (I) 0.25% 20 ml levobupivacaine or (II) normal saline 20 mL to the bed of the gall bladder and to the subdiaphragmal region above the liver at the end of the operative intervention. VAS (0-10) on 2-nd, 6-th, 12-th and 24-th hour as well as postoperative analgesia requirements were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean abdominal pain in the levobupivacaine group was significantly lower than that in the 0.9% Na Cl group on the 2nd (p = 0.038) and 6-th (p = 0.028) postoperative hour. There was reduction in postoperative analgesia requirements in levobupivcaine group, but no statistically significant difference between the two groups was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Intraperitoneal administration of levobupivacaine is associated with modest analgesia following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.