Pain after microlaparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is traditionally performed with two 10-mm and two 5-mm trocars. The effect of smaller port incisions on pain has not been established in controlled studies. Methods: In a double-blind controlled study, patients were randomized to LC or cholecystectomy with three 2-mm trocars and one 10-mm trocar (micro-LC). All patients received a multimodal analgesic regimen, including incisional local anesthetics at the beginning of surgery, NSAID, and paracetamol. Pain was registered preoperatively, for the first 3 h postoperatively, and daily for the 1st week. Results: The study was discontinued after inclusion of 26 patients because five of the 13 patients (38%) randomized to micro-LC were converted to LC. In the remaining 21 patients, overall pain and incisional pain intensity during the first 3 h postoperatively increased in the LC group ( n = 13) compared with preoperative pain levels ( p < 0.01), whereas pain did not increase in the micro-LC group ( n = 8). Conclusions: Micro-LC in combination with a prophylactic multimodal analgesic regimen reduced postoperative pain for the first 3 h postoperatively. However, the micro-LC led to an unacceptable rate of conversion to LC (38%). The micro-LC instruments therefore need further technical development before this surgical technique can be used on a routine basis for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.