The effect of intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized controlled double-blind study

Introduction: the effect of intravenous corticosteroids on postoperative pain has been well demonstrated; however, few studies have focused on the efficacy of intraperitoneal corticosteroid use after laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone on postoperative analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: we conducted a prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled study, including patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and randomised into two groups: the group D (receiving 16ml: 12 ml saline and 4ml solution containing 16mg dexamethasone) and the group T (receiving 16 ml saline). The primary endpoint was: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for abdominal pain during the first 24 hours after surgery. The secondary endpoints were the incidence of shoulder pain, time to first request for analgesia, the consumption of morphine in the post-intervention surveillance room (PACU), the consumption of non-opioid analgesics and the incidence of nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours after surgery as well as the presence of complications. Results: sixty patients were included in the study and divided into two groups of 30. Demographic parameters, duration of surgical and anesthesia procedures, as well as intraoperative fentanyl consumption were comparable between the two groups. Abdominal pain VAS values (p≤0.001), the incidence of shoulder pain (p<0.001), opioid and analgesic consumption (p<0.001) and the incidence of nausea (p=0.002) and vomiting (p=0.012) during the first 24 hours after surgery were significantly lower in group D. No complications related to dexamethasone administration were noted. Conclusion: intraperitoneal dexamethasone reduces postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.