Abstract

Background: The laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard to treat gallstones. The present study was conducted to compare high- and low-pressure carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).
Materials & Methods: 80 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into 2 groups of 40 each. In group I, the pneumoperitoneum with PaCO2 of 7–10 mmHg and in group II with 12–14 mmHg using standard four-port method was used. Abdominal pain at the site of surgery and shoulder-tip pain were assessed based on the verbal rating scale (VRS). Parameters such as arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature were recorded during and 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours after the surgery.
Results: The mean abdominal pain was 7.8, 6.3, 5.2 and 4.5 and in group II 6.4, 4.1, 5.0 and 2.9 at 1 hour, 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours in group I and group II respectively. Nausea/vomiting score was 5.9, 4.5, 3.8 and 2.5 in group I and 4.7, 3.7, 2.6 and 2.1 in group II respectively. Shoulder tip pain in group I was 6.4, 4.6, 3.7 and 2.9 in group I and 6.0, 4.4, 3.2 and 1.9 in group II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: Low pressure pneumoperitoneum was found to be betterthan high pressure pneumoperitoneum in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.