VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2021 ) > List of Articles
MV Ramya, Sudheesh Kannan, Mallikarjuna Manangi, Athish B Shetty, CS Santhosh Kumar
Citation Information : Ramya M, Kannan S, Manangi M, Shetty AB, Kumar CS. Effects of Intraperitoneal Instillation of Ropivacaine on Postoperative Bowel Movements. World J Lap Surg 2021; 14 (3):212-214.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10033-1481
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 05-03-2022
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).
Background: Gallstone disease represents a significant burden for healthcare systems making laparoscopic cholecystectomy one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the world. Aims and objectives: Numerous studies have shown intraperitoneal ropivacaine instillation to have good analgesic effect thus enhancing postoperative recovery. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine on postoperative bowel movements. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 28 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the Victoria Hospital, affiliated to Bengaluru Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, from October 2019 to December 2019. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed electively on patients diagnosed with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Group A were instilled with ropivacaine intraperitoneally (40 mg of ropivacaine in 100 mL of normal saline) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, after the removal of the gallbladder but prior to the removal of the ports into the gallbladder bed and over the liver surface. Group B were not instilled with any drug. Patients were then monitored postoperatively, treated with intravenous analgesics, and other supportive care was given. Postoperative bowel movements were then recorded in terms of mean time for appearance of bowel sounds, passage of flatus, and passage of stools. Patients were then discharged after being deemed fit for discharge. Results: There was no significant improvement in the return of bowel sounds or in the time to passage of flatus/stools as a result of intraperitoneal ropivacaine instillation. Further, it did not seem to have a positive effect on the early discharge of patients. Conclusion: Early recovery from surgery has been a major concern. In this regard, the effect of intraperitoneal instillation of ropivacaine on postoperative analgesia has been well documented. However, its effect on postoperative bowel movements does not seem to be significant.